The Last Book in the New York TImes Bestselling Dark Romance Series. Where love tries to triumph and darkness continues to reign....“I’m in love with her, but it might not be enough to stop her from becoming the latest victim of the Debt Inheritance. I know who I am now. I know what I must do. We will be together—I just hope it’s on Earth rather than in heaven.”It all comes down to this.Love versus life.Debts versus death.

NILA WEAVER“NO!”I pushed back, gripping the handrails of the private jet, throwing my weight against Daniel’s incessant pushing. “Stop!”“Get up the fucking stairs, Weaver.” Daniel jabbed his elbow into my spine.I stumbled, bashing my knee against the high tread. “You can’t do this!”Daniel cackled. “I think you’ll find we can.” He shoved me higher.My heart hurt—as if every mile between us and Hawksridge was a blade slicing me further from Jethro’s protection.Time once again stole my life.One moment, I’d been love-bruised and adored, tiptoeing back into the Hall; the next I was trapped, forced to dress in jeans and a hoody, and obey Daniel as he lurked in my doorway, barking orders to pack a few meagre belongings.My pussy ached from having Jethro inside me. The dampness of his release still decorated my inner thighs. My mind raced, doing my best to see a loophole, figure out a way to stay.I hadn’t had time to shoot him with the gun Jasmine gave me. I couldn’t scream and shout and hope to God Jasmine heard me so at least she could warn Jethro.I couldn’t even text Kite with Daniel lurking over my every move.The only hope I’d had was packing the altered clothing where I’d sewn knitting needles and scalpels into the hem and cuffs, hiding weapons in case I was taken by surprise.I wanted to cry for my forward thinking.The few hopeless weapons would be my only ally.Two days.I would’ve been free in two days.Now…I was a true Debt Inheritance Victim, walking her final steps…to the guillotine.

Pepper Winters is a NYT and USA Today International Bestseller. She wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex... her books have sex.She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends. She's also honoured to wear the IndieReader Badge for being a Top 10 Indie Bestsellers, best BDSM series voted by the SmutClub, and recently signed a two book deal with Grand Central. Her books are currently being translated into numerous languages and will be in bookstores in the near future.

“We’d won. We’d cut through the lies and treachery and promised an alliance that would free us both. But even as we won, we lost. We didn’t see what was coming. We didn’t know we had to plan a resurrection.”Nila Weaver fell in love. She gifted her entire soul to a man she believed was worthy. And in the process, she destroyed herself. Three debts paid, the fourth only days away. The Debt Inheritance has almost claimed another victim.Jethro Hawk fell in love. He let down his walls to a woman he believed was his cure. For a moment, he was free. But then he paid the ultimate price.There is no more love. Only war. Hope is dead. Now, there is only death all around them.

PROLOGUE

Vaughn

FUNNY HOW LIFE plays practical jokes.The past few days—that had to be a fucking joke, right?There was no logical answer that would make sense to what I’d seen, heard, and lived the past seventy-two hours.My sister.My best-friend and twin.This was what she’d been living with? This was how she’d been treated?This was what she wanted to return to?Motherfucking why? Why would she ever want to return to this insanity?We’d been raised in a broken home, chained to an empire that absorbed us right from birth. But we were kept safe, warm, and loved. We grew up together. We shared everything.But now…I had no fucking clue who my sister was.But then she came to me.A woman I never knew existed.The most stunning creature I’d ever seen.Only she didn’t come to me on feet or wings of an angel. She rolled into my life and demanded my help.And for better or for worse.I helped her.

CHAPTER ONE

Nila

“LET ME GO!”Daniel cackled like a mad hyena, his fingers stabbing into my bicep. Without breaking his stride, he stole me further away from the parlour and into the bowels of the house.I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to go anywhere with him.“Take me back!” I squirmed, doing my best to return to Jethro.He can’t be dead!Just because he lay unmoving and bloody didn’t mean he’d left me behind.That’s exactly what it means.I shook my head, dislodging those awful thoughts. He’s alive. He had to be.I couldn’t tolerate any other answer. I refused to live in a world where evil triumphed over good. That wasn’t right—life couldn’t be that cruel.It’s always been that way.My mind filled with images of my mother. My father’s desolation. My broken childhood. Evil had puppeteered us from day one. Why should now be any different?He’s not dead!I swallowed a sob.Please don’t be dead…I fought harder. “Let me see him. You can’t do this!”Daniel cackled louder. “Keep begging, Weaver. Won’t do you any good.”

Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex... her books have sex.She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends.Her Dark Erotica books include:Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1) -http://amzn.to/1lROLYNQuintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark #2) -http://amzn.to/1qB27ZhTwisted Together (Monsters in the Dark #3) -http://amzn.to/1olkxsDDebt Inheritance (Indebted Series) -http://amzn.to/1As8P4XHer Grey Romance books include:Destroyed -http://amzn.to/1w9f6Vr

BLURB “I tried to play a game. I tried to wield deceit as perfectly as the Hawks. But when I thought I was winning, I wasn’t. Jethro isn’t what he seems—he’s the master of duplicity. However, I refuse to let him annihilate me further.” Nila Weaver has grown from naïve seamstress to full-blown fighter. Every humdrum object is her arsenal, and sex…sex is her greatest weapon of all. She’s paid the First Debt. She’ll probably pay more. But she has no intention of letting the Hawks win. Jethro Hawk has found more than a worthy adversary in Nila—he’s found the woman who could destroy him. There’s a fine line between hatred and love, and an even finer path between fear and respect. The fate of his house rests on his shoulders, but no matter how much ice lives inside his heart, Nila flames too bright to be extinguished.

EXCERPT #1 I’D TAKEN HER, but ultimately, she’d taken me. I’d tried to destroy her, but serendipitously, she’d destroyed me. This was the beginning of the end. Not the end of my feelings for her but the way of my life, my world. Something would have to change. Something would have to give… … Someone would have to die. I EXISTED WITH a brain full of betrayal, schemes, and plotting. Living with the Hawks was utterly exhausting. Every day was a challenge to figure out the truths from the lies. But no matter how hard I worked, I could never seem to unravel reality from fiction. He’d won. And with a winner came a loser. One triumphant and one depressed. A trophy over misery. Two days had passed since Kestrel had granted the truth to one huge mystery. Two days in which I hadn’t been able to think of anything else. I wanted to hate Jethro for duping me—for stringing me along like an idiot. But whenever my anger boiled over, needing desperately to confront him, I remembered one thing. One important, vital thing. He’d initiated contact before he was told. He’d communicated with me almost as if it were a cry for help, rather than a plot to deceive. If this were another trick, then so help him, I’d find a way to castrate him. But, somehow, I didn’t think it was. I had a horrible feeling this was the one way that he would let me in. An avenue of truths that he felt comfortable enough to continue, because a silent written word didn’t have as much weight as a loudly spoken one. Which brought me back to my vitally important conclusion:Jethro wants to be honest. He wanted to stop playing charades and show me everything he kept hidden. He wanted to talk to someone. Perhaps, for the first time in his life, he wasn’t satisfied with the hand life dealt him and…Stop fabricating excuses. All day, I’d been coming up with theories on why he was how he was and reading too far into things that he’d done. It could be as simple as: he’d been told to get in touch. Told to initiate contact in a way that could potentially mould me into a more submissive captive, especially if I were to believe he was on my side. I wanted to believe he’d acted against his father. But no matter how much I wished it, it didn’t make it was true.How do you explain the knowing then? I slouched against my pillows in bed. That was true. A part of me just seemed to know. Call it either sheer idiocy or feminine intuition. I believed he’d texted me because I was the first outsider permitted into his world—the only one not a Hawk. My brain hurt. When we were alone, when we weren’t arguing or fighting, there was an enchanting calmness. A connection. Closing my eyes, I let my mind skip back to Kes’s unwilling promise. The way his eyes had darkened with secrets as I’d collapsed into his arms from the vertigo spell two days ago.“Nila?”A crushing headache appeared from nowhere. It was the most I could do to stay present and not permit my mind to relive every text Jethro had sent to see the hidden agendas now that I knew it was him.“I’m—I’m okay. You can let me go.” I struggled out of Kes’s embrace, my skin humming from his touch. I needed some space. I needed a world full of space to get over the treachery and lies.“You didn’t know? You hadn’t guessed?” Kes crossed his arms, never taking his golden eyes from mine.I glowered. “How could I know? I thought the messages were from you!”He flinched. “Yes, that was the plan. To make you believe it was me, so he could continue on with whatever little mind games he was playing.” Leaning closer, he added, “I haven’t been privy to any of the messages he sent you or you sent him—so don’t feel like I’ve intruded on details that I shouldn’t.”Anger infused my blood. “If you were both in on it—why didn’t he show you the messages? Why were you so nice to me? What does all of this mean?”Kes moved away, reclining against a sapling. “I was nice because that’s just who I am. Yes, I come from a family with twisted up morals and I’m loyal to those twisted up morals, but I also did it out of loyalty to my brother. If you’re pissed, direct it all on him. Not me.”“Oh, believe me. I’m pissed. Beyond pissed.” My hands balled as my mind filled with crazy ideas of retribution and revenge. I would make him pay.“I’d cool down before you spring it on him. Best to keep it quiet. Cut doesn’t know. It was just me who knew Jet had been in touch with you before he was given the go-ahead to collect you in Milan.”I froze. “Why did he initiate conversation with me almost five weeks before he could claim me?”Kes shook his head. “The day I understand my brother is the day I’ll gamble my entire inheritance on the stock market. I can’t work him out. The only thing I can do is be there for him. And I only found out ‘cause he changed pretty much around the same time he started messaging you. Something was different—we’re close. So, I saw it before the others.”My brain throbbed trying to figure out just what had changed in Jethro. He’d seemed the perfect Hawk when he’d come to collect me. Cold as ice and deadly as a sword.Now that I knew his secret, I had power. And I had no intention of giving that power back. Jethro had been playing me for far too long. He’d successfully screwed with my head. It was time for payback. “Don’t tell him that I know.”Kes’s eyes popped wide. “Pardon?”“You heard me. Don’t tell Jethro about today. Let him continue to think I’m clueless.” My heart frothed with rage and unhappiness. I was so stupid to believe I’d gotten through to him on some level. The sex between us left both of us stripped bare. Something more than family feuds and hatred existed when he slid inside me and sent both of us shattering into dust.I’d let him inside me. In so many ways. It was my turn to do the same.“You know I can’t do that, Nila. As welcome as you are in our household, and as much as I like hanging out with you, I can’t betray Jet. Not after everything he’s been through.”I pounced on the small thread of truth about my tormentor. “What has he been through, Kes? Tell me and I’ll march back to the Hall right now and tell him myself.”Kes shifted uncomfortably, refusing to meet my eyes. “Slip of the tongue. Forget it.”Crossing my arms, I hissed, “Fine. Seeing as you’re so capable of keeping secrets, keep this one for me.”Kes scowled. “Keeping my own flesh and blood’s issues hidden isn’t the same thing as helping out a Weaver.”My heart raced. If Jethro hadn’t taught me how to stand up for myself, I would’ve cowered at the thought of being so pushy with a full-grown man all alone in a forest. Now, I was raging and fully intended to get my own way. “Give me two weeks. Two weeks before you tell him that I know. Do that and I’ll be forever grateful.”His shoulders slumped in defeat. “How can you be forever grateful when forever isn’t something anyone has.”Especially me, seeing as my lifespan was destined to be significantly shorter than his.“Just…please, Kestrel. One favour.”It took him a while to give in. His allegiance to his brother was strong.Finally, he huffed. “Fine. But it won’t save you from his temper when he finds out.” However, I had no intention of suffering Jethro’s wrath. I had every right to deceive him after he did it to me. My revelations were safe—for now. I trusted that Kes wouldn’t say anything. I didn’t know why, but on some level I did trust Kes—just enough to use him in my plans. And I was fully committed to tripping Jethro up. It was his turn to divulge things he might not have if he’d known the truth. Hiding behind the pretence that Kite was Kes had made him softer the past few weeks. I would use that chink to make the crevice I’d been trying to form since I gave him a blowjob after hunting me down. I couldn’t think about anything else. I couldn’t focus on sketching, sewing, reading.Nothing. My brain was a whirly-gig of Jethro. Kite. Jethro. Kite. And I’d had enough. Throwing myself out of bed after another sleepless night, I wrenched back the curtains and glowered at the dismal weather. The watery dawn did nothing to inspire either anger or contentment. The sky was grey. Fog looked like haunting ghosts, threading its ghoulish tentacles over the lower woodland of the estate. No birds chirped or sun shone. Summer had truly abandoned us. The bite in the air shouted ‘go back to bed where it’s warm’ but my brain had no such intention. I hadn’t relaxed for two days. I’d stared at my phone, determined to text Jethro and trip him into revealing everything he kept secret, only to stare blankly at an empty message. Now that I knew it was him, my willingness to show so much had gone. Knowledge was power and he had too much of mine already. How could I dig deeper into his mystery while maintaining all of mine? The answer—I couldn’t. And that made me incredibly nervous. To find out who he truly was, I had to show everything that made me real. And despite the emotional growth spurt I’d endured at the hands of the Hawks, I wasn’t ready to evolve again. I’d lost so much of myself already—how much was I prepared to leave behind before I became a perfect stranger? “Ah!” I dug my fingers into my hair. I needed a reprieve from my racing thoughts, and I knew exactly how to do it. Mother Nature’s sudden urge to switch seasons from summer to winter couldn’t stop my itch. I needed fresh air, and I needed it now. Racing around my room in the new Weaver quarters where Jethro had made me beg and come apart with his cock deep inside me, I found my black spandex shorts and highlighter pink sports bra. Pulling the clothing on, followed by my sneakers, I quickly smoothed my hair into a bun, and shot from the room. I hadn’t worn my exercise gear since the morning of the Milan runway show. I’d sprinted until I’d collapsed off the treadmill at the hotel, hoping I could dispel my anxiety enough to hide my stupid nerves and prevent a vertigo spell in front of the press. It had worked—mainly. Until Jethro arrived, of course. The moment when I’d set eyes upon him, I’d been done for. He’d been so dashing with his suit, tie, and diamond pin. So perfectly refined with his elegant haircut, chiselled physique, and sculptured lips. Even though his soul was dark, his body had summoned me. He’d called to me, and like the stupid Weaver I was, I’d followed him blindly.Now, it’s his turn to follow my whims, my rules. Jogging down the corridor, my racing mind and temper eased, already reacting to the stress relief I’d sought all my life.I need him out. It wasn’t fair. I was supposed to seduce him and make him care for me--not the other way around. I wasn’t supposed to fall for my own games. Lust was as dangerous as love. Only it was worse because it had the power to make even the worst ideas seem plausible—and even recommended—when a sexual reward was given. The moment Jethro gave in and kissed me, I’d betrayed more than just myself. I’d betrayed my entire family line and all the Weaver women who’d died before me. I had feelings for him. A dangerous softness toward my would-be-killer.It has to end. I had to find a way to seduce him…to make him love me, all while I kept my heart frigid and locked away in an ice fortress. I laughed under my breath. You sound just like him. I wanted to turn into the female equivalent of his glacial shell. Only, ice wasn’t impervious. Ice melted and succumbed to fire. I’d proven that over the past month. The house breathed around me with gentle heartbeats only ancient dwellings could have. Spirits of past generations lived in its walls, revenants danced in the drapery, and figments of long forgotten lovers floated through the tapestries. A grandfather clock tick-tocked as I jogged past, showing the time at six thirty a.m. After being privy to the business meetings with Kes and the Black Diamonds, I knew the men never got up this early. They worked late, dealing with shipments and the transportation of stones worth more than any dress I could sew. Darkness was their asset, the sun their foe. At least I could run and be back before anyone tried to stop me. I didn’t want them to draw the wrong conclusion that I was trying to escape again. I blinked as I ran head first into a horrendous conclusion.Even if you found the boundary this morning, you wouldn’t leave. My heart thumped harder at the tangled web I lived. Freedom was something I wanted more than anything. But even if I escaped the Hawks, I would only run back into the trap of pity and vertigo. I wanted more than that. I deserved more than that. If I found the estate edge, I wouldn’t disappear. I couldn’t. My captivity wasn’t just about me anymore. It was about the future. It was about Jethro.Admit it… It was about living. The passion, the intensity, the blazing ferocity of existing with enemies and plotting beneath their noses was a much worthier cause than sitting at home sewing for the masses. This was about me. Me standing up for myself, and for a future I wanted, not a future already planned for me. This was about so many twisted things. I wrenched open the French doors at the end of the corridor and stumbled into the foggy dawn. Fresh air welcomed me and I found a reprieve from my scrambled thoughts.I can’t forget my ultimate plan. No matter how Jethro endeared himself to me—giving me glimpses of someone barely coping inside his wintry armor—I wasn’t going to forget my goal.Freedom. Not just for myself, but for the rest of my legacy. My children and their children and their children’s children would never have to go through this. I intended to be the last Weaver stolen.It’s time for a new debt—one that owes us life, not death. Sucking in lungfuls of crisp air, I steeled myself in what I had to do. In order to win, I had to guard my soul. I had to play along with Jethro’s mind games and hope to God I won first. A cool breeze whistled through the trees, sounding like haunted laments. I shivered, wishing I’d brought a jacket.You’ll be sweating in ten minutes. Ignore it. Gritting my teeth against the cold, I bent over and stretched my quads. The tug and slow release of muscles was heaven after the stress of the past few days. My body hummed with the knowledge it was about to run. And run. And run. For fun this time, not for survival. Bouncing on the spot, I rolled my shoulders, eyeing up the sweeping lawn before me. If I went right, I’d loop around the stables. If I went left, I’d cut through the sprawling rose garden and orchards.Go straight. Down the meandering path that disappeared over the horizon. I switched from bouncing to jogging. “And just where do you think you’re going?” a cool voice whispered through the silver fog. I wrenched to a stop, peering behind me. No one. “I thought you’d realised running wasn’t a viable option, Ms. Weaver.” His icy voice sent a strange mixture of hot and cold desire down my spine. Jethro morphed into being, seeming to solidify from the mist like a terrible poltergeist. He leaned against one of the pillars holding up the portico, crossing his arms. My heart collapsed, unable to untangle the maze of hypocrisy between us. My skin begged for his touch. My lips tingled for his. Every inch of me craved what he could deliver. Heat. Passion. An eruption that I felt in every cell. But none of that was real. And I refused to believe in trickery any longer. Mirroring his body language, I crossed my arms. “I realise escaping isn’t a viable option. But I’m not escaping. I’m running. Running is my only option to escape the mess you’ve made.” His jaw clenched. “The mess I’ve made?” “Yes.” I took a step backward as he advanced. “You’re messing me up, and I’m done playing whatever it is that you’re doing.” I sucked in courage and embraced honesty. It seemed to work around him, and I needed him to see how serious I was. How hurt I was with his deception.He’s Kite. Bastard. Baring my teeth, I said, “It seems I have a weakness for you, but I changed my mind. I don’t—” A low growl escaped him. “A weakness? You call what happened between us a fucking weakness?” My breathing ratcheted as if I’d already run two miles. “The worst kind of weakness.” He smiled, but no mirth entered his gaze. If anything, his golden eyes were luminous with anger. “You’re the one who started it…Nila.” I gasped at the delicious decadence of my name on his lips. The sound echoed in his mouth, shooting straight to my core.Shit. Jethro advanced again, his body trembling with barely veiled lust. “You’re the one who created this problem.” His hand came up, fingers slinking through my tied-up hair, tightening around the back of my skull. “I can’t hear the name Weaver without getting fucking hard. I can’t even think of you without boiling with need.” His nose brushed against mine, his lips so damn close to stealing all my scrambled plans and sending me headfirst into a life of debauchery. “You should never have said those two words, Ms. Weaver. I told you. We’re both fucked now.” My mind was blank, every synapse focusing on his fingers in my hair and his mouth only millimetres from mine. “What two words?” He chuckled. The sound was self-deprecating and almost morbid with dark intensity. “Kiss me.” I shivered in his hold. “You’re reminding me of what started this mess, or you’re asking me to kiss you?”Ask me. And I will. God, how I will. I’d kiss him until I’d stripped him of his arctic armor and destroyed it, I’d lick him until I tasted his truth, and I’d bite him until I’d eaten every morsel of his soul. I’d do all that so he had nowhere left to hide. We stood wrapped in foggy silence. The drawn out anticipation of a kiss turned my legs to jelly. If he pressed his mouth to mine, I wouldn’t be going for my run. I would climb his body and impale myself on his cock. Fakery be damned. Kite’s messages and deceit be damned. I just wanted a raw connection—with this man, who made my soul whimper for wrongness. Jethro’s tongue slipped between his lips, hypnotising me. Then…he let me go. “No, I’m not asking you to kiss me. I won’t ever ask anything from you.” I flinched as if he’d slapped me. “Why not?” “Because I own you. Everything I want will be given, not requested.”Double shit. I should hate him. I should smite him. So, why did his every word seduce me, even while I knew his morals were chauvinistic and heartless? Forcing my body to obey, I shoved the weakness I had for him as far away as possible. My eyes trailed down his front. He wore tan jodhpurs, black riding boots, and a tweed jacket. The bulge between his legs looked heavy and far too dangerous to be legal. “You’ve been riding.” A gentle gust of early morning air blew his scent directly into my nose. I inhaled, soaking my lungs in hay, horse, and all things Jethro. He nodded, crossing his arms once again. “You run. I ride. Seems we have something else in common.”Something other than being forced into this debt and finding each other irresistible, you mean? “Oh, what’s that?” Jethro stepped closer, seeming to bring shadows into the smoky light of dawn. “We both need time alone to hide from the things that chase us.” He stiffened, his eyes churning with things he refused to voice. A five o’ clock shadow decorated his strong jaw, his lips parted while his gaze was pure brimstone. Swiftly, he cupped my cheek.Oh, God. Electricity instantly sparked beneath his fingertips. Would I always suffer the rhapsody of his touch? My skin smouldered; pinpricks of light, of fire, of hell, all burnished beneath his hold. I swayed, pressing my face harder into his palm. He sucked in a breath, his fingers digging harder against my cheekbone. The chemistry and need to devour each other thickened with every heartbeat. One beat. Two beat. Three. We stood there, frozen on the stoop of Hawksridge Hall just waiting for the other to move. The moment we did, our clothes would disintegrate and I would willingly let him drag me into a bush and fuck me. Lust and tension swirled. I had so many questions and doubts; so many reasons to hate and fear him. But when he touched me…poof. I no longer remembered, nor cared. We swayed closer, drawn against our will to close the aching distance. I couldn’t breathe.Kiss me. Please, kiss me. The moment stretched until it hummed with overwhelming possibilities. Then, it snapped. Loudly. Painfully. Shattering around our feet. “You’re too fucking dangerous,” Jethro muttered, removing his touch and stepping away. Dragging his hand through his hair, he commanded, “Wait here. Don’t go anywhere.” His hands went to his jacket buttons, undoing them with nimble fingers. I blinked, struggling to shed myself of heavy need and focus on the true reason why I stood barely dressed in the freezing morning. “I’m not escaping. I’ll be back in forty minutes or so.” He shook his head, slipping out of his tweed and revealing a black long-sleeved jumper. My mouth went dry. Even in clothing, I could make out every ridge of muscle in his stomach, every ripple of energy as he breathed in and out. He was designed straight from my fantasies, and I hated him for being so splendid. My core clenched, sending flutters of wetness between my legs. I hadn’t seen him in two days, yet I’d panted after him as if he’d been missing my entire life. If he suspected I knew that he was Kite, he hadn’t let on. After Kes had told me the truth, I’d waited for Jethro to barge into my room and swear me to secrecy. But he hadn’t. He didn’t look at me any differently; he gave no outward sign that his lies had begun to unravel. As much as he confounded and frustrated me, I couldn’t help admiring his perfection at hiding. I wanted to be like him. I wanted to protect my secrets so damn well that whatever I did next would come as a surprise. I wanted to rule him. “I’m coming with you. Don’t leave.” He disappeared into the house, leaving me abandoned and covered in chills from both the morning air and his departure. Jogging on the spot, I deliberated ignoring him and leaving.Just go. What was the worst that could happen? He’d have to chase me again. My tummy coiled at the thought. I liked that idea way too much. I liked the thought of what would happen after he found me. The power I’d felt giving him that blowjob. The awe and attraction that’d glowed in his eyes.I want that again. Screw waiting like a good little captive.Make him hunt. And then I would make him explode. I bolted.EXCERPT #2 Just thinking of Jethro sent a spasm of desire through my core. Dammit, what’s happening to me? A daydream of Jethro slamming to his knees before me and wrenching my legs wide stole my mind. It was so vivid, so real—a trickle of need ran down my inner thigh. I gasped as I imagined his tongue lapping at my clit, his long fingers disappearing inside me—the same finger that I’d tattooed with my name. Would I come harder knowing he touched me with a finger branded by me? Or would I hold on as tight as I could and make him work for it? Oh, God. I needed to get rid of this satanic desire. I needed to be free. My eyes opened, latching onto the detachable showerhead. I could do it myself… My heartbeat whizzed with need. I couldn’t fight the churning demand any longer. Reaching upward, I unhooked the showerhead and turned the water temperature down so as not to burn myself. Feeling awkward and ridiculous and a hundred times guilty for what I was about to do, I braced my back on the tiled wall and spread my legs a little. My teeth clamped on my bottom lip as the water pressure tickled my clit. Oh. My. God. My eyes rolled back as I grew bolder and pressed the stream of heavenly water harder against my pussy. Water cascaded down my legs while my torso shivered from sudden cold. My nipples stiffened as I wickedly angled the jet down and down until water shot inside me. Every jet and bubble aroused sensitive flesh, sending my muscles clenching in joy. I moaned. Loudly. My legs trembled as my neck flopped forward and I gave myself over to the exquisite pleasure conjured by an innocuous showerhead. Starbursts flashed behind my eyelids; Jethro loomed into my mind. I pictured him shrugging out of his black shirt, prowling toward me while unbuckling his belt and unzipping his trousers. I moaned again as my daydream shed his clothing and stood proud and naked before me. He grabbed his cock, pumping himself hard and firm, while his eyes feasted on what I was doing. He didn’t say a word, only watched, then crooked his finger and beckoned me closer. My heartbeat exceeded recommended limits as I forced myself higher and higher, locking my knees against buckling as an orgasm brewed into being. I rocked the showerhead, biting my lip as the pressure spurted over my clit and then inside me. The rhythm I set was exactly like fucking and I daren’t overthink how I looked or how depraved I felt getting off this way. My daydream forced its way past my misgivings. My forehead furrowed as I trembled, both welcoming and fighting an orgasm. Daydream Jethro crept closer, working his cock, a dangerous glint in his eyes. The moment I was within grabbing distance, he captured my waist. “I need to be inside you, Nila.” I put words into Jethro’s mouth, but it was his voice I heard in my heart. I moaned again, angling the showerhead harder against my clit. “How do you want it?” my fantasy whispered in my ear as he spun me around and pressed me hard against the wall. I swallowed hard, answering in my mind. “Fast and…” “Filthy?” Daydream Jethro’s nose nuzzled the back of my ear, sending shockwaves down my spine. “I can fuck you filthy.” I couldn’t speak. But I didn’t have to. My fantasy knew exactly how I needed it. Jethro bit the back of my shoulder, spreading my legs wider with his. “Fuck me, Jethro Hawk,” I whispered. “Oh, I will. Believe me, I will.” Without further warning, he dug his fingers into my hips and slammed inside me. My fingers went numb as I slid the showerhead from clit to entrance. I cried out as water shot inside at the same time as Jethro thrust into me from behind, sliding deep and fast, stretching me deliciously painfully. My heart exploded with bliss. An orgasm squeezed every atom, getting ready to hurl me into the stratosphere. Jethro thrust again and I rode my new friend the showerhead. “Oh, God. Yes,” I hissed, rocking harder. “Yes, yes…” A masculine cough sounded. “You continue to surprise me, Ms. Weaver; at least this time, I rather enjoy it.” Everything crashed into awareness. My daydream shattered, fracturing by my feet like broken glass. I squealed and dropped the showerhead. It turned into a water snake, spewing water left and right, wriggling like some terrible demon. Jethro snickered. “You’re using up the entire Hall’s supply of hot water. Are you planning on saving some for the rest of the inhabitants of my home?”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex... her books have sex. She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends. Her Dark Erotica books include: Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1) Quintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark #2) Her Grey Romance books include: Destroyed STALK Pepper: Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

Sneak Peek Excerpt Excerpt from Second Debt by Pepper Winters. RELEASE DATE: January 26th I’D TAKEN HER, but ultimately, she’d taken me. I’d tried to destroy her, but serendipitously, she’d destroyed me. This was the beginning of the end. Not the end of my feelings for her but the way of my life, my world. Something would have to change. Something would have to give… … Someone would have to die. I EXISTED WITH a brain full of betrayal, schemes, and plotting. Living with the Hawks was utterly exhausting. Every day was a challenge to figure out the truths from the lies. But no matter how hard I worked, I could never seem to unravel reality from fiction. He’d won. And with a winner came a loser. One triumphant and one depressed. A trophy over misery. Two days had passed since Kestrel had granted the truth to one huge mystery. Two days in which I hadn’t been able to think of anything else. I wanted to hate Jethro for duping me—for stringing me along like an idiot. But whenever my anger boiled over, needing desperately to confront him, I remembered one thing. One important, vital thing. He’d initiated contact before he was told. He’d communicated with me almost as if it were a cry for help, rather than a plot to deceive. If this were another trick, then so help him, I’d find a way to castrate him. But, somehow, I didn’t think it was. I had a horrible feeling this was the one way that he would let me in. An avenue of truths that he felt comfortable enough to continue, because a silent written word didn’t have as much weight as a loudly spoken one. Which brought me back to my vitally important conclusion:Jethro wants to be honest. He wanted to stop playing charades and show me everything he kept hidden. He wanted to talk to someone. Perhaps, for the first time in his life, he wasn’t satisfied with the hand life dealt him and…Stop fabricating excuses. All day, I’d been coming up with theories on why he was how he was and reading too far into things that he’d done. It could be as simple as: he’d been told to get in touch. Told to initiate contact in a way that could potentially mould me into a more submissive captive, especially if I were to believe he was on my side. I wanted to believe he’d acted against his father. But no matter how much I wished it, it didn’t make it was true.How do you explain the knowing then? I slouched against my pillows in bed. That was true. A part of me just seemed to know. Call it either sheer idiocy or feminine intuition. I believed he’d texted me because I was the first outsider permitted into his world—the only one not a Hawk. My brain hurt. When we were alone, when we weren’t arguing or fighting, there was an enchanting calmness. A connection. Closing my eyes, I let my mind skip back to Kes’s unwilling promise. The way his eyes had darkened with secrets as I’d collapsed into his arms from the vertigo spell two days ago.“Nila?”A crushing headache appeared from nowhere. It was the most I could do to stay present and not permit my mind to relive every text Jethro had sent to see the hidden agendas now that I knew it was him.“I’m—I’m okay. You can let me go.” I struggled out of Kes’s embrace, my skin humming from his touch. I needed some space. I needed a world full of space to get over the treachery and lies.“You didn’t know? You hadn’t guessed?” Kes crossed his arms, never taking his golden eyes from mine.I glowered. “How could I know? I thought the messages were from you!”He flinched. “Yes, that was the plan. To make you believe it was me, so he could continue on with whatever little mind games he was playing.” Leaning closer, he added, “I haven’t been privy to any of the messages he sent you or you sent him—so don’t feel like I’ve intruded on details that I shouldn’t.”Anger infused my blood. “If you were both in on it—why didn’t he show you the messages? Why were you so nice to me? What does all of this mean?”Kes moved away, reclining against a sapling. “I was nice because that’s just who I am. Yes, I come from a family with twisted up morals and I’m loyal to those twisted up morals, but I also did it out of loyalty to my brother. If you’re pissed, direct it all on him. Not me.”“Oh, believe me. I’m pissed. Beyond pissed.” My hands balled as my mind filled with crazy ideas of retribution and revenge. I would make him pay.“I’d cool down before you spring it on him. Best to keep it quiet. Cut doesn’t know. It was just me who knew Jet had been in touch with you before he was given the go-ahead to collect you in Milan.”I froze. “Why did he initiate conversation with me almost five weeks before he could claim me?”Kes shook his head. “The day I understand my brother is the day I’ll gamble my entire inheritance on the stock market. I can’t work him out. The only thing I can do is be there for him. And I only found out ‘cause he changed pretty much around the same time he started messaging you. Something was different—we’re close. So, I saw it before the others.”My brain throbbed trying to figure out just what had changed in Jethro. He’d seemed the perfect Hawk when he’d come to collect me. Cold as ice and deadly as a sword.Now that I knew his secret, I had power. And I had no intention of giving that power back. Jethro had been playing me for far too long. He’d successfully screwed with my head. It was time for payback. “Don’t tell him that I know.”Kes’s eyes popped wide. “Pardon?”“You heard me. Don’t tell Jethro about today. Let him continue to think I’m clueless.” My heart frothed with rage and unhappiness. I was so stupid to believe I’d gotten through to him on some level. The sex between us left both of us stripped bare. Something more than family feuds and hatred existed when he slid inside me and sent both of us shattering into dust.I’d let him inside me. In so many ways. It was my turn to do the same.“You know I can’t do that, Nila. As welcome as you are in our household, and as much as I like hanging out with you, I can’t betray Jet. Not after everything he’s been through.”I pounced on the small thread of truth about my tormentor. “What has he been through, Kes? Tell me and I’ll march back to the Hall right now and tell him myself.”Kes shifted uncomfortably, refusing to meet my eyes. “Slip of the tongue. Forget it.”Crossing my arms, I hissed, “Fine. Seeing as you’re so capable of keeping secrets, keep this one for me.”Kes scowled. “Keeping my own flesh and blood’s issues hidden isn’t the same thing as helping out a Weaver.”My heart raced. If Jethro hadn’t taught me how to stand up for myself, I would’ve cowered at the thought of being so pushy with a full-grown man all alone in a forest. Now, I was raging and fully intended to get my own way. “Give me two weeks. Two weeks before you tell him that I know. Do that and I’ll be forever grateful.”His shoulders slumped in defeat. “How can you be forever grateful when forever isn’t something anyone has.”Especially me, seeing as my lifespan was destined to be significantly shorter than his.“Just…please, Kestrel. One favour.”It took him a while to give in. His allegiance to his brother was strong.Finally, he huffed. “Fine. But it won’t save you from his temper when he finds out.” However, I had no intention of suffering Jethro’s wrath. I had every right to deceive him after he did it to me. My revelations were safe—for now. I trusted that Kes wouldn’t say anything. I didn’t know why, but on some level I did trust Kes—just enough to use him in my plans. And I was fully committed to tripping Jethro up. It was his turn to divulge things he might not have if he’d known the truth. Hiding behind the pretence that Kite was Kes had made him softer the past few weeks. I would use that chink to make the crevice I’d been trying to form since I gave him a blowjob after hunting me down. I couldn’t think about anything else. I couldn’t focus on sketching, sewing, reading.Nothing. My brain was a whirly-gig of Jethro. Kite. Jethro. Kite. And I’d had enough. Throwing myself out of bed after another sleepless night, I wrenched back the curtains and glowered at the dismal weather. The watery dawn did nothing to inspire either anger or contentment. The sky was grey. Fog looked like haunting ghosts, threading its ghoulish tentacles over the lower woodland of the estate. No birds chirped or sun shone. Summer had truly abandoned us. The bite in the air shouted ‘go back to bed where it’s warm’ but my brain had no such intention. I hadn’t relaxed for two days. I’d stared at my phone, determined to text Jethro and trip him into revealing everything he kept secret, only to stare blankly at an empty message. Now that I knew it was him, my willingness to show so much had gone. Knowledge was power and he had too much of mine already. How could I dig deeper into his mystery while maintaining all of mine? The answer—I couldn’t. And that made me incredibly nervous. To find out who he truly was, I had to show everything that made me real. And despite the emotional growth spurt I’d endured at the hands of the Hawks, I wasn’t ready to evolve again. I’d lost so much of myself already—how much was I prepared to leave behind before I became a perfect stranger? “Ah!” I dug my fingers into my hair. I needed a reprieve from my racing thoughts, and I knew exactly how to do it. Mother Nature’s sudden urge to switch seasons from summer to winter couldn’t stop my itch. I needed fresh air, and I needed it now. Racing around my room in the new Weaver quarters where Jethro had made me beg and come apart with his cock deep inside me, I found my black spandex shorts and highlighter pink sports bra. Pulling the clothing on, followed by my sneakers, I quickly smoothed my hair into a bun, and shot from the room. I hadn’t worn my exercise gear since the morning of the Milan runway show. I’d sprinted until I’d collapsed off the treadmill at the hotel, hoping I could dispel my anxiety enough to hide my stupid nerves and prevent a vertigo spell in front of the press. It had worked—mainly. Until Jethro arrived, of course. The moment when I’d set eyes upon him, I’d been done for. He’d been so dashing with his suit, tie, and diamond pin. So perfectly refined with his elegant haircut, chiselled physique, and sculptured lips. Even though his soul was dark, his body had summoned me. He’d called to me, and like the stupid Weaver I was, I’d followed him blindly.Now, it’s his turn to follow my whims, my rules. Jogging down the corridor, my racing mind and temper eased, already reacting to the stress relief I’d sought all my life.I need him out. It wasn’t fair. I was supposed to seduce him and make him care for me--not the other way around. I wasn’t supposed to fall for my own games. Lust was as dangerous as love. Only it was worse because it had the power to make even the worst ideas seem plausible—and even recommended—when a sexual reward was given. The moment Jethro gave in and kissed me, I’d betrayed more than just myself. I’d betrayed my entire family line and all the Weaver women who’d died before me. I had feelings for him. A dangerous softness toward my would-be-killer.It has to end. I had to find a way to seduce him…to make him love me, all while I kept my heart frigid and locked away in an ice fortress. I laughed under my breath. You sound just like him. I wanted to turn into the female equivalent of his glacial shell. Only, ice wasn’t impervious. Ice melted and succumbed to fire. I’d proven that over the past month. The house breathed around me with gentle heartbeats only ancient dwellings could have. Spirits of past generations lived in its walls, revenants danced in the drapery, and figments of long forgotten lovers floated through the tapestries. A grandfather clock tick-tocked as I jogged past, showing the time at six thirty a.m. After being privy to the business meetings with Kes and the Black Diamonds, I knew the men never got up this early. They worked late, dealing with shipments and the transportation of stones worth more than any dress I could sew. Darkness was their asset, the sun their foe. At least I could run and be back before anyone tried to stop me. I didn’t want them to draw the wrong conclusion that I was trying to escape again. I blinked as I ran head first into a horrendous conclusion.Even if you found the boundary this morning, you wouldn’t leave. My heart thumped harder at the tangled web I lived. Freedom was something I wanted more than anything. But even if I escaped the Hawks, I would only run back into the trap of pity and vertigo. I wanted more than that. I deserved more than that. If I found the estate edge, I wouldn’t disappear. I couldn’t. My captivity wasn’t just about me anymore. It was about the future. It was about Jethro.Admit it… It was about living. The passion, the intensity, the blazing ferocity of existing with enemies and plotting beneath their noses was a much worthier cause than sitting at home sewing for the masses. This was about me. Me standing up for myself, and for a future I wanted, not a future already planned for me. This was about so many twisted things. I wrenched open the French doors at the end of the corridor and stumbled into the foggy dawn. Fresh air welcomed me and I found a reprieve from my scrambled thoughts.I can’t forget my ultimate plan. No matter how Jethro endeared himself to me—giving me glimpses of someone barely coping inside his wintry armor—I wasn’t going to forget my goal.Freedom. Not just for myself, but for the rest of my legacy. My children and their children and their children’s children would never have to go through this. I intended to be the last Weaver stolen.It’s time for a new debt—one that owes us life, not death. Sucking in lungfuls of crisp air, I steeled myself in what I had to do. In order to win, I had to guard my soul. I had to play along with Jethro’s mind games and hope to God I won first. A cool breeze whistled through the trees, sounding like haunted laments. I shivered, wishing I’d brought a jacket.You’ll be sweating in ten minutes. Ignore it. Gritting my teeth against the cold, I bent over and stretched my quads. The tug and slow release of muscles was heaven after the stress of the past few days. My body hummed with the knowledge it was about to run. And run. And run. For fun this time, not for survival. Bouncing on the spot, I rolled my shoulders, eyeing up the sweeping lawn before me. If I went right, I’d loop around the stables. If I went left, I’d cut through the sprawling rose garden and orchards.Go straight. Down the meandering path that disappeared over the horizon. I switched from bouncing to jogging. “And just where do you think you’re going?” a cool voice whispered through the silver fog. I wrenched to a stop, peering behind me. No one. “I thought you’d realised running wasn’t a viable option, Ms. Weaver.” His icy voice sent a strange mixture of hot and cold desire down my spine. Jethro morphed into being, seeming to solidify from the mist like a terrible poltergeist. He leaned against one of the pillars holding up the portico, crossing his arms. My heart collapsed, unable to untangle the maze of hypocrisy between us. My skin begged for his touch. My lips tingled for his. Every inch of me craved what he could deliver. Heat. Passion. An eruption that I felt in every cell. But none of that was real. And I refused to believe in trickery any longer. Mirroring his body language, I crossed my arms. “I realise escaping isn’t a viable option. But I’m not escaping. I’m running. Running is my only option to escape the mess you’ve made.” His jaw clenched. “The mess I’ve made?” “Yes.” I took a step backward as he advanced. “You’re messing me up, and I’m done playing whatever it is that you’re doing.” I sucked in courage and embraced honesty. It seemed to work around him, and I needed him to see how serious I was. How hurt I was with his deception.He’s Kite. Bastard. Baring my teeth, I said, “It seems I have a weakness for you, but I changed my mind. I don’t—” A low growl escaped him. “A weakness? You call what happened between us a fucking weakness?” My breathing ratcheted as if I’d already run two miles. “The worst kind of weakness.” He smiled, but no mirth entered his gaze. If anything, his golden eyes were luminous with anger. “You’re the one who started it…Nila.” I gasped at the delicious decadence of my name on his lips. The sound echoed in his mouth, shooting straight to my core.Shit. Jethro advanced again, his body trembling with barely veiled lust. “You’re the one who created this problem.” His hand came up, fingers slinking through my tied-up hair, tightening around the back of my skull. “I can’t hear the name Weaver without getting fucking hard. I can’t even think of you without boiling with need.” His nose brushed against mine, his lips so damn close to stealing all my scrambled plans and sending me headfirst into a life of debauchery. “You should never have said those two words, Ms. Weaver. I told you. We’re both fucked now.” My mind was blank, every synapse focusing on his fingers in my hair and his mouth only millimetres from mine. “What two words?” He chuckled. The sound was self-deprecating and almost morbid with dark intensity. “Kiss me.” I shivered in his hold. “You’re reminding me of what started this mess, or you’re asking me to kiss you?”Ask me. And I will. God, how I will. I’d kiss him until I’d stripped him of his arctic armor and destroyed it, I’d lick him until I tasted his truth, and I’d bite him until I’d eaten every morsel of his soul. I’d do all that so he had nowhere left to hide. We stood wrapped in foggy silence. The drawn out anticipation of a kiss turned my legs to jelly. If he pressed his mouth to mine, I wouldn’t be going for my run. I would climb his body and impale myself on his cock. Fakery be damned. Kite’s messages and deceit be damned. I just wanted a raw connection—with this man, who made my soul whimper for wrongness. Jethro’s tongue slipped between his lips, hypnotising me. Then…he let me go. “No, I’m not asking you to kiss me. I won’t ever ask anything from you.” I flinched as if he’d slapped me. “Why not?” “Because I own you. Everything I want will be given, not requested.”Double shit. I should hate him. I should smite him. So, why did his every word seduce me, even while I knew his morals were chauvinistic and heartless? Forcing my body to obey, I shoved the weakness I had for him as far away as possible. My eyes trailed down his front. He wore tan jodhpurs, black riding boots, and a tweed jacket. The bulge between his legs looked heavy and far too dangerous to be legal. “You’ve been riding.” A gentle gust of early morning air blew his scent directly into my nose. I inhaled, soaking my lungs in hay, horse, and all things Jethro. He nodded, crossing his arms once again. “You run. I ride. Seems we have something else in common.”Something other than being forced into this debt and finding each other irresistible, you mean? “Oh, what’s that?” Jethro stepped closer, seeming to bring shadows into the smoky light of dawn. “We both need time alone to hide from the things that chase us.” He stiffened, his eyes churning with things he refused to voice. A five o’ clock shadow decorated his strong jaw, his lips parted while his gaze was pure brimstone. Swiftly, he cupped my cheek.Oh, God. Electricity instantly sparked beneath his fingertips. Would I always suffer the rhapsody of his touch? My skin smouldered; pinpricks of light, of fire, of hell, all burnished beneath his hold. I swayed, pressing my face harder into his palm. He sucked in a breath, his fingers digging harder against my cheekbone. The chemistry and need to devour each other thickened with every heartbeat. One beat. Two beat. Three. We stood there, frozen on the stoop of Hawksridge Hall just waiting for the other to move. The moment we did, our clothes would disintegrate and I would willingly let him drag me into a bush and fuck me. Lust and tension swirled. I had so many questions and doubts; so many reasons to hate and fear him. But when he touched me…poof. I no longer remembered, nor cared. We swayed closer, drawn against our will to close the aching distance. I couldn’t breathe.Kiss me. Please, kiss me. The moment stretched until it hummed with overwhelming possibilities. Then, it snapped. Loudly. Painfully. Shattering around our feet. “You’re too fucking dangerous,” Jethro muttered, removing his touch and stepping away. Dragging his hand through his hair, he commanded, “Wait here. Don’t go anywhere.” His hands went to his jacket buttons, undoing them with nimble fingers. I blinked, struggling to shed myself of heavy need and focus on the true reason why I stood barely dressed in the freezing morning. “I’m not escaping. I’ll be back in forty minutes or so.” He shook his head, slipping out of his tweed and revealing a black long-sleeved jumper. My mouth went dry. Even in clothing, I could make out every ridge of muscle in his stomach, every ripple of energy as he breathed in and out. He was designed straight from my fantasies, and I hated him for being so splendid. My core clenched, sending flutters of wetness between my legs. I hadn’t seen him in two days, yet I’d panted after him as if he’d been missing my entire life. If he suspected I knew that he was Kite, he hadn’t let on. After Kes had told me the truth, I’d waited for Jethro to barge into my room and swear me to secrecy. But he hadn’t. He didn’t look at me any differently; he gave no outward sign that his lies had begun to unravel. As much as he confounded and frustrated me, I couldn’t help admiring his perfection at hiding. I wanted to be like him. I wanted to protect my secrets so damn well that whatever I did next would come as a surprise. I wanted to rule him. “I’m coming with you. Don’t leave.” He disappeared into the house, leaving me abandoned and covered in chills from both the morning air and his departure. Jogging on the spot, I deliberated ignoring him and leaving.Just go. What was the worst that could happen? He’d have to chase me again. My tummy coiled at the thought. I liked that idea way too much. I liked the thought of what would happen after he found me. The power I’d felt giving him that blowjob. The awe and attraction that’d glowed in his eyes.I want that again. Screw waiting like a good little captive.Make him hunt. And then I would make him explode. I bolted.

BLURB “I tried to play a game. I tried to wield deceit as perfectly as the Hawks. But when I thought I was winning, I wasn’t. Jethro isn’t what he seems—he’s the master of duplicity. However, I refuse to let him annihilate me further.” Nila Weaver has grown from naïve seamstress to full-blown fighter. Every humdrum object is her arsenal, and sex…sex is her greatest weapon of all. She’s paid the First Debt. She’ll probably pay more. But she has no intention of letting the Hawks win. Jethro Hawk has found more than a worthy adversary in Nila—he’s found the woman who could destroy him. There’s a fine line between hatred and love, and an even finer path between fear and respect. The fate of his house rests on his shoulders, but no matter how much ice lives inside his heart, Nila flames too bright to be extinguished.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex... her books have sex. She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends. Her Dark Erotica books include: Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1) Quintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark #2) Her Grey Romance books include: DestroyedSTALK Pepper: Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

Prepare to be Owned... Lose yourself in this collection of never before seen novellas from eleven best selling authors from around the globe. And the best part - they contain controlling alphas, feisty females and story lines that will have you holding your breath. Don't miss out on this great anthology by: Lilliana Anderson – Deep Cover: Case 001 Chelle Bliss – Resisting Callie Hart – Rebel ** Lesley Jones – Reed ** Jani Kay – Debonaire Nina Levine – All Your Reasons Lyra Parish – Single: Volume One Lila Rose – Finding Out Pepper Winters – Forbidden Flaws ** PLEASE NOTE: There are several novellas that are complete and a few that are previews of full novels that will be released at a later time. The stories with an asterisk (**) beside them are previews of full novels. All others are complete. There are also some that are series starters. The Owned: An Alpha Anthology will only be available for a limited time and is intended for a mature audience.

Jani Kay – DEBONAIR~Facebook~Goodreads~ deb•o•nair adjective \ˌde-bə-ˈner\ of a man : dressing and acting in a stylish and sophisticated way : urbane, attractive, charming and confident Debonair and sexy-as-sin Tyler Sinclair has fought his way from poverty to the top as a Wall Street stockbroker. Hungry for success, ambitious for power and glory, he doesn’t have time for messy emotions like love. When his colleague is called away on business, Tyler is stuck with an intern he never wanted and doesn’t have time for. Three weeks of torture await him. Raised by a single mother, Brooklyn Bennett is an Australian girl who works and studies hard to achieve her dreams. She scores an internship with a prestigious firm in New York for six months. Focused on her career, she can't afford to lose sight of her goals. Love is not on her agenda. From the moment Tyler lays eyes on the girl with the golden hair, strange accent and sassy attitude, something about her intrigues him. Can he teach her all she needs to learn without losing his heart? Can he make her yield to him not only in the boardroom but also in the bedroom? Will a few nights of passion change the way they both feel about love . . . or is it just about sex, money and desire?

Alexis Romera isn’t ready to die. Thing is…She may not have a choice. *** The president of the Widow Makers MC is determined. The Los Oscuros cartel is going down. The one thing Rebel must do to make that happen?Keep the girl alive.

Pepper Winters – FORBIDDEN FLAWS~Facebook~Goodreads~She’s forbidden. Saffron Carlton is the darling of the big screen, starlet on the red carpet, and wife of mega producer Felix Carlton. Her life seems perfect with her overflowing bank balance, adoring fans, and luxury homes around the world. Everyone thinks they know her. But no one truly does. The silver limelight is tainted the day the couple announce their divorce.He’s flawed. Raised in squalor, fed on violence and poverty, Cas Smith knows the underbelly of the world. He’s not looking for fame or fortune. He’s looking for a job to get him the hell away from the danger of illegal fighting, and comes face to face with the woman who ran all those years ago. Unable to turn down her job offer, he agrees to be her bodyguard and personal trainer, all while she hides her secrets. He had no intention of letting her back into his heart. But neither of them were prepared for what happens when forbidden and flawed collide —fracturing the world they know, changing the rules forever.

Lilliana Anderson – DEEP COVER~Facebook~Goodreads~ Some things won’t stay buried… Drake Jefferson has been missing for years. Wanted by the very people who hired him, he left behind his job, his life, and his love to pursue a career of the criminal variety. Caitlin Saunders, Drake’s ex-wife and one of the AFP’s best analysts, is doing her best to move on after losing the love of her life. Originally a part of the team that managed Drake’s operation, she gave up her field role the day she realized he’d turned. And she hasn’t trusted a soul since. One phone call in the middle of the night will force her back to active duty - a suspect in an ongoing case has been captured and they insist they have information on Drake – they just aren’t willing to talk to anyone but her. That information will change everything she believed to be true and send her down a path that could land her in the exact position Drake ended up in. It will take every skill set she has, just to keep her head above water as she learns that right and wrong don’t always follow the rules, and that when you’re fighting for love – there are no rules.

Chelle Bliss – RESISTING~Facebook~Goodreads~ I belong to no one. It’s the way I’ve chosen to live. Master of my own destiny, finding my way through this bullshit thing called life. I learned from a young age how to get my way. Being a woman isn’t a weakness. It’s the opposite. I’ve spent my life being surrounded by four overbearing brothers, but I’ve never been a wallflower. Independent and unwilling to be tied down, I grabbed life by the balls and lived it to the fullest. I was enjoying myself, minding my own business at my brothers wedding. Then WHAM. Ever have a man walk into your life and alter your entire universe? My answer would’ve been no before he tempted me into his bed. I’m talking about the big damn bang. Everything that I thought was right, suddenly spins on its axis and bitch slaps me in the face.

Lila Rose – FINDING OUT~Facebook~Goodreads~ In a moment of weakness, Ivy Morrison tells a lie, a lie which will leave her scrambling for a solution and quick. The perfect solution comes well-packaged in the form of broody and sinfully sexy Fox Kilpatrick, courtesy of Find Your Soul Ma...te online dating service. Desperate times is most definitely a call for desperate measures. With no other choice, Ivy convinces passionate yet possessive Fox to help her in her time of need. Fox ‘Killer’ Kilpatrick is still caught up in his past, a past of anger and death, which his biker brothers desperately want him to recover from. Losing a bet, Killer finds himself on a blind date with Ivy, the woman who is set to turn his world upside down. Following your heart is never easy, neither is following an unknown path, but finding out may just be worth the journey to possibility. Only together, will Ivy and Killer discover if it was worth the risk after all.

Lyra Parish – SINGLE VOLUME ONE~Facebook~Goodreads~ After failing miserably at love, Roxane VanBuren swears off men but not before her determined best friend shows her all the advantages of being single. After a wild weekend full of sex, old-flames, and secrets, Roxane is desperate to forget it ever happened. But she learns it isn't that easy. Since becoming the President of VanBuren Investments, she knows how important it is for her professional and personal life to remain separate from one another. If the two were to mix, the rumors could possibly ruin her reputation, which is bad for her and bad for business. To avoid that, Roxane allows rules to define and guide her every move. Unfortunately for her, Parker Williams is determined to break them all, one at a time.

Lesley Jones – REED~Facebook~Goodreads~She was mine. Our love, unquestioned. Our futures planned. But she didn't show. All that we had, all that we meant, and after all that was said, she just didn't show. That one act from her, changed everything, but it especially changed me and from that moment on, there was no going back. No words of love, no whispered promises, just sex and drugs and rock and roll. No one gets a piece of Reed but what they will get is the night of their life, the chance to let go, break their own rules and the best, the dirtiest, filthiest sex ever... Along with the other four people in my bed.

Nina Levine – ALL YOUR REASONS~Facebook~Goodreads~ When heartbreaker meets ball breaker, sparks will fly. Rockstar, Jett Vaughn, isn’t against settling down, but no woman has ever held his attention long enough for a relationship to develop. That is until he meets Presley Hart. She’s confident, opinionated and headstrong. She drives him to the edge of crazy, but he can’t deny how she makes him feel. He wants her heart, but she only wants his body. Presley’s not against giving her heart to a man, but she has too many reasons why he’s not the one to give it to. Jett isn’t a man who will take no for an answer though. He’s about to declare war on her reasons and take what he wants.

REVIEW5 STARS I was very eager to have this book on my kindle! I wanted to read all stories but Jani Kay’s and Callie Hart’s were on my top list. I just sad that Lili St. Germain needed to leave this amazing anthology L I just hope she will be ok and will give us Elliot’s story soon! J So about this anthology. First minus is that they are short stories with a big cliffhangers. Have I said big? I mean HUGE! First story I have read was Debonair by Jani Kay. It’s a story about Wall Street wolf Mr. Sinclair and young girl from Australia Miss Bennett. In first sight I can say that Sinclair is very big a$hole. Yes I know he has worked all his life to have everything what he has now but c’mon! Thank god Jani Kay decided that Bennett needs to be sassy girl not a door mat. Well they met, and then they met one more time. I will not tell you where and how J But this book has ended in the best place! I needed to know will Sinclair have Bennett out of her dress? Or no? Well we will need to wait. Second book that I have read was Rebel by Callie Hart. It’s about young girl Alex, she found herself in bad place in bad time. She wanted to help beaten man and she was took and sold for bad men. In the end you will question yourself: will she be given to Rebel? Or will he save her from cartel? It was very short so we don’t know very much about Rebel and Alex but believe me, it’s very intrigued story! So like I said before, the biggest minus now is waiting. Waiting to read continues of these amazing books!

Title: FORBIDDEN FLAWSAuthor: Pepper WintersThis is a FULL length novel with the first part to be released on November 10, 2014 as part of OWNED: An Alpha AnthologyGoodreads

SYNOPSISShe’s forbidden. Saffron Carlton is the darling of the big screen, starlet on the red carpet, and wife of mega producer Felix Carlton. Her life seems perfect with her overflowing bank balance, adoring fans, and luxury homes around the world. Everyone thinks they know her. But no one truly does. The silver limelight is tainted the day the couple announce their divorce. He’s flawed. Raised in squalor, fed on violence and poverty, Cas Smith knows the underbelly of the world. He’s not looking for fame or fortune. He’s looking for a job to get him the hell away from the danger of illegal fighting, and comes face to face with the woman who ran all those years ago. Unable to turn down her job offer, he agrees to be her bodyguard and personal trainer, all while she hides her secrets. He had no intention of letting her back into his heart. But neither of them were prepared for what happens when forbidden and flawed collide —fracturing the world they know, changing the rules forever.﻿***BOOK TRAILER***﻿

OWNED An Alpha AnthologyGoodreads Prepare to be Owned... Lose yourself in this collection of never before seen novellas from eleven best selling authors from around the globe. And the best part - they contain controlling alphas, feisty females and story lines that will have you holding your breath.Pre-Order Owned today!Amazon USAmazon UK iBooksB&N KOBO

ABOUT THE AUTHORPepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex... her books have sex. She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends.

SYNOPSISCAPTURED is a steamy collection from today’s hottest authors featuring 9 sexy bad boys trying to capture your heart, every way they know how. New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Opal Carew, Cathryn Fox, Eve Langlais, T. J. Michaels, Sharon Page, S.E. Smith, and Pepper Winters, along with Teresa Morgan and Mandy Rosko bring you nine tales of sensual seduction featuring alpha male heroes determined to have their way, and willing to do anything to get it, even if that means a little seductive persuasion… We’ve included a real mix of stories, from light & funny to dark & sinister, contemporary to paranormal. Seriously, for .99 you can’t go wrong! DEBT OF HONOR by Opal Carew Held captive by a domineering sheikh… and made to pay for a crime she did not commit YOURS TO TAKE by Cathryn Fox Revenge takes on a sexy twist when a powerhouse lawyer is stripped of her control by the handsome multi-millionaire she once took down in the courtroom. ACCIDENTAL ABDUCTION by Eve Langlais Fall in love? Never! An alien assassin turned pirate has no use for an emotion he can’t sell, but that doesn’t stop him from falling for the human he captures. JAGUAR’S RULE by T. J. Michaels After an irresistible night of passion with Reya, Aaron James longs to hold her close forever. Little does he know that the tall, sleek beauty has a carnal secret–and he’s the one who needs protection. HANDCUFFED TO THE SHEIKH by Teresa Morgan The last thing Maxine Foss ever expected was to be handcuffed to a sexy, but crazy, guy who claims he’s an Arabian prince… and is determined to seduce her. Best. Abduction. Ever. FAST AND MINE by Sharon Page College student Claire gets lessons in seduction from sexy, hot street bike racer, Sawyer. But when she’s kidnapped by his psychotic sponsor to force him to race, can Sawyer save her and win her heart? BURNS LIKE FIRE by Mandy Rosko Jack Marilla is out for revenge for the deaths of his family, and the burn scars that cover his body. To get it, he has to hunt down the woman he used to love, the paranormal fire starter who set his house ablaze with him, and his family, locked inside of it. When he catches her, however, he faces his biggest challenge yet. To not believe her when she claims to be innocent, or fall for her seduction.. DEBT INHERITANCE by Pepper Winters Jethro Hawk receives Nila as an inheritance present on his twenty-ninth birthday. Her life is his until she’s paid off a debt that’s centuries old. He can do what he likes with her–nothing is out of bounds–she has to obey. There are no rules. Only payments.. CHOOSING RILEY by S. E. Smith Things take a turn for the worse when Riley St. Claire is kidnapped by aliens and forced to choose a mate. The problem is, it would have been better, and safer, for the aliens if they had left Riley back on Earth.***Purchase Links:***~Amazon US~B&N~iTunes~You can get this boxed set for 3.99$ - currently 0.99$ on sale - which means you're saving $35$ if you'd buy these all separately!

EXCERPT #1 Debt of Honor by Opal Carew Angelica glanced down at the costume again. It was stunning in royal blue and gold with a gorgeous design formed by the intricate beadwork. The bottom of the bra and the hip band were dripping with beaded fringe. It cascaded from the bra and caressed her bare midriff. She had taken belly dance classes over the past couple of years and had eyed the instructors' costumes, wishing she could afford one for herself, yet this was more exquisite than any she'd ever seen. "You like it, yes?" one of the women asked. She seemed to be the one in charge. "It's … beautiful." The woman took her hand and drew her forward. "Wonderful. The master will be pleased." Angelica's eyes widened. They were taking her to him in this? When she slowed down, the women gathered around her and kept her moving forward. "Stop it. I won't go dressed like this." "You must. The master has ordered it." They quickly approached the door. Panic flooded through her. She couldn't. "I won't wear this!" She reached behind her back and tried to unfasten the bra, but the unfamiliar closure and the fussing hands of the women prevented her from succeeding. She pulled the straps off her shoulders and tried to pull it forward. "No, miss. You might rip it," one panicked woman insisted. Rip it. That's exactly what she'd do. She tugged at the straps but they were securely fastened on. She switched to the belt and tugged hard. Despite the women pulling at her arms, she found where it fastened. She realized they had stopped their forward momentum as they struggled with her. She jerked several times until finally, she heard the belt tear, then it fell from her hips. The women spoke frantically in their own language. Next, she tore at the shimmering, diaphanous fabric of the skirt, ripping it from her body. She shoved her fingertips under the bra beside her left breast and pulled hard. The elastic gave a little and she tried to pull it upwards. "Stop! You will ruin it." She felt fingers working at the fastening, then the bra loosened. One of her captors took it, scowling at Angelica. The woman in charge stepped in front of Angelica, her hands on her hips. "The master will be very angry." "Then don't tell him." "His orders were for you to be brought to him in that outfit." Angelica placed her hands on her own hips, extremely conscious of her nudity but ignoring it. "Well, maybe it's time for him to learn that not all his orders will be followed." One of the women gasped. Angelica suspected the only reason the other woman didn't seem surprised was because she didn't speak English. She marched away from them, snatched the silk coverlet from the bed and wrapped it around herself. She sat down, her arms crossed over her chest as she held the coverlet firmly around herself. She had shown them she wouldn't be pushed around, she thought smugly. But Angelica's smugness faded quickly when the women simply dragged her from the bed and led her through the hallways totally naked except for the cover she clung to. They stopped in front of a heavy wooden door in a tall, arched doorway. The head woman knocked and the door pulled open. A tall guard greeted her and waved them inside. The women led Angelica into a large, sumptuous room filled with plush, upholstered couches and chairs piled high with silk and velvet cushions, all in rich jewel tones, and ornately carved, ebony

EXCERPT #2Yours to Take by Cathryn FoxQuinn Montgomery took one look at the flight manifest and felt his cock swell with an excitement he hadn’t felt in a long time. As the Dom in him stirred to life, he carefully set the paper on his desk and took two measured steps to his office window. He adjusted his tie and blinked against the bright morning rays glistening on the wings of the Cessna idling quietly on the tarmac below. He turned his attention to his ground crew, who were performing maintenance checks before today’s scheduled flights, but his thoughts were too preoccupied with the names on his manifest, one name in particular, to follow their progress.Rebecca Andrews. Now what were the odds that the lawyer who’d cost his company hundreds of thousands of dollars had booked a charter on one of his crafts? A charter to a hedonistic resort, nonetheless. His mind raced back to last year’s trial, and to the lawsuit Ms. Andrews’ client never should have won. How it was his company’s fault that Ms. Andrews’ client had booked a package though a shady travel agent, only to find herself alone and stranded on Nantucket Island during one of the year’s worst storm was beyond him. Yet in the end, his company had to go good for the damages, as well as the mental stress and loss of wages that the woman had allegedly suffered. Quinn’s mouth twitched and he scrubbed his hand over his chin as he rolled back and forth on the balls of his feet. While the money was only a drop in the bucket for his company, the tricks the lawyer had used to get what she wanted from him, left him wanting to use a few tricks of his own—to get what he wanted from her. Oh yeah, watching her from the hot seat during his trial, watching that sharp tongue of hers in action, had him wanting to find other ways to put that smart mouth of hers to work. Heat prowled through his body as he thought about how Ms. Andrews kept her control close, kept her body poised and her head held high. But during the proceeding, every time her glance had landed on him and she lowered her gaze in a submissive move, he knew she was in denial. Damned if he didn’t want to be the one to open her eyes and her body, and put her in touch with her deeper needs. Even though they’d never crossed paths since the trial, she’d consumed his thoughts for well over a year now. He’d spent many nights thinking about the ways he’d like to strip her bare and give her ass a good hard paddling for wrongfully stealing money from his company. But the truth was, what he wanted had little to do with revenge, and more to do with showing the woman who dressed in prim and proper business suits that real control came in the form of surrender. With his cock throbbing, and heat coursing through him, he moved back to his desk to look over the day’s schedule a second time. He glanced at her name again, and his entire body came alive, because there was no denying that he’d just been gifted the perfect opportunity to help her free her submissive side. Of course, given that he’d only have one weekend, he’d have no choice but to push her limits and resort to some stronger methods to seduce the submission out of her. His fingers itched as he thought about that lush heart-shaped ass of hers and how much it needed his attention. He inspected the itinerary closer and discovered that Jack Armstrong, a pilot that had been with the company since its early days was scheduled to depart for Freedom at nine sharp—Ms. Andrews the only passenger on board. Quinn considered her final destination. Not only had his company taken guests to the private island numerous time, he personally knew the resort well, having played there a time or two. Although this time he suspected the plane wasn’t going to make it to the well-known island nestled in the Atlantic Ocean, especially if he was the one in the pilot seat. He picked up the paper, and traced his finger over her name as a devious plan began to formulate in his mind. As he sorted through all the naughty details, all the tricks he was going to use on her, he checked his watch then picked up his phone to call his personal assistant. After giving her a list of things he needed before takeoff, he dialed a friend and called in a favor. Once all the pieces were in place, and the discreet information he needed was on its way, he crossed Jack’s name off the manifesto, shrugged out of his dress jacket and grabbed his flight suit. Ms. Andrews might be looking for a little adventure at Freedom, but he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to be the guy to give her what she really wanted, yet had no idea how much she needed.

EXCERPT #3 Accidental Abduction by Eve LanglaisWhole in body, unsure of her spirit, and with more questions than a cop, Megan prowled around the edges of the room, running her hands along the surface looking for a seam or something to press that would allow her to exit. She also really wished she could find something to wear. Somehow encountering alien life while in the buff didn’t seem like it would put her at an advantage, so when she heard a whisper of sound behind her, she whirled while slapping one hand over her crotch and flinging the other across her boobs. Given her generous size, that didn’t accomplish much other than make her alien kidnapper open his eyes wide before laughing, an apparently universal sound. “I fail to see the humor,” she growled through gritted teeth. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d appreciate you turn around, or even better, run along to fetch me some clothes.” That shut him up even if he remained facing her. “Xfinewfikagdolpa?” He spoke to her in a guttural tongue that sent shivers dancing along her skin. She ignored how his voice affected her and concentrated on the fact she didn’t understand a damned thing he said. “I don’t know what the hell you just said, so do you want to try again in English instead of whatever alien language you’re using.” She tapped a bare foot as she glared at him imperiously—naked or not, she refused to show fear even if inside, she quivered at the situation. He snarled some foreign words before throwing something at her and stalking out of the room. Fabric hit her as she watched in stunned amazement how the previously unseen door just slid across the opening, leaving the wall seamless again. Unsure of when the annoyed alien freak would return, she scrambled to get into the clothes, his she surmised judging by the size and style: a white tunic shirt that hung to her knees and pants that hugged her rounded ass but went well past her ankle. She sat down and rolled the bottoms until her feet peeked out. As attire went, she was well covered if braless. As she waited for the Martian to return, her mind took the time to dissect his appearance properly. First, immense didn’t begin to describe him. The man had to tower over her by at least a foot or more, and at five foot eight, she wasn’t some dainty little flower. And talk about wide. Holy freaking chest. She had only to look down at the shirt that draped her body to swallow in awe at the width of his torso.Big from muscle or fat? Or does he have like alien parts hidden under there? She couldn’t deny a curiosity to find out. Ignoring his body for a minute, she thought on his face and the color of his skin. Purple, he’s freaking purple. Not a light pansy violet, but a deep rich mauve that made his almost opaque blue eyes pop. His dark hair, with its slight wave, hung almost to his shoulders, the color matching the neatly trimmed goatee on his square chin. He wore a silver ring in one nostril and another in his arched brow. His lips appeared black, but his teeth gleamed brightly—and pointed. Definitely a carnivore with chompers like that. And when he spoke in that strange gibberish, he’d rumbled low and sexy, a gruff voice to go with his tough ass look. She vaguely recalled calling him Han Solo on crack, but she revised that to Johnny Depp in his pirate role commuted to space. Dark, dangerous, and wickedly hot looking. Given his alien characteristics, she had to wonder just what other surprises he hid other than his skin color and teeth, like maybe a forked dick or acidic jizz. She slapped a hand over her mouth before she could giggle aloud, not sure if he or some other E.T. watched her from some hidden camera. Good looks aside, she wasn’t here on an intergalactic cruise to pick up sexy aliens—even if she couldn’t deny curiosity. She’d narrowly escaped her last lover, and now that she had a second chance at life, she needed to swear off men—even hot space ones—for a while. A long while.Hell, maybe I’ll check out what it’s like on the other side. Maybe I’d have better luck with another woman. The idea didn’t enthuse her. A carpet muncher she was not. With no warning, the wall slid open again and her dark pirate stepped in, his clear eyes glittering. He tossed something small at her and she lifted her hands to catch it—and missed. She’d never excelled at sports, outside the bedroom that was. Naked, she could keep up with any skinny bitch. The little black object clattered to the floor and she heard an exasperated sigh. “Well, excuse me for not being Miss Agile. You try getting almost drowned by your boyfriend, sucked into some spaceship by a tractor beam, and then having some weird machine experiment on you. I guarantee your reflexes would suck, too.” He didn’t reply, just crossed his arms across his massive chest and inclined his head at the object on the floor. She stooped to pick it up and turned it in her hand, not recognizing the item at all. “What is it?” Another sigh sounded followed by movement. She flicked her gaze at him and sucked in a breath as she discovered him coming at her, almost seven feet of bristling, purple alien pirate. In a disgustingly girly reaction, she backed up. He growled, and in reflex, she growled back. Her response made his brows shoot up. She couldn’t help the smirk that crossed her face as she threw him off balance. In a lightning quick move, his hand shot out toward her and she squeaked before she dashed behind the table she’d woken up on. “Don’t come near me,” she yelled. “You—you giant, purple weirdo.” “Kddwolsgewo.” He spoke gibberish again and motioned her forward with his hand. She snorted. Not likely. He snarled, baring his pointed teeth. With nothing to protect herself, she threw the black thing at him. He caught it with a blurring movement of his hand and she gulped. He displayed remarkable reflexes. He moved around the table, and she shuffled her feet, keeping herself away. It wasn’t like her to act so cowardly, but truly, the guy—if an alien could be called a guy—was freaking huge, and he didn’t look happy. She screamed when he leapt over the table and snagged an arm around her waist. She continued to shriek and thrash as he whirled her around. He yanked her back into his hard chest, his one arm an immovable anchor around her waist. His other hand fiddled at her ear, and she screamed. “Let go of me you freakish brute.” “Would you shut up, you annoying female, before I give into my first impulse to kill you.” As his words penetrated her panic, she stilled, her chest heaving. “I understood you,” she whispered. “Of course you did, silly human. If you hadn’t panicked, like your kind are wont to do, I would have shown you how to insert the translator yourself.” “Well, how the hell was I supposed to know?” she snapped back. “It’s not like I’ve ever met an alien before. In my world, we don’t shove things in people’s ears when we meet them for the first time.” “Yes, I am well aware of your planet’s barbarian status,” he retorted with a disgusted snort. “What?” she sputtered. “Look who’s calling the kettle black. I’d say you aren’t that far from caveman status yourself.” “I knew I should have killed you,” he grumbled from behind her. It occurred to Megan that perhaps she should shut up for a moment before he acted on his words. The silence, though, made her aware of where she stood, more against whom. Pressed against her back, the alien heated her even through the fabric separating them. The palm pressed against her stomach branded her through the thin linen shirt and held her firmly against him. She wiggled in a sudden attempt to get away, but this served only to have him bring her closer and her eyes widened as she felt something poking her in the back. That better not be what I think it is. Instead of smartly shutting up, she took in a breath. “Oh, no fucking way. If you think I’m going to service you sexually, you are out of your mind. I don’t bang guys I don’t know, and that goes double for aliens. I don’t care if you accidentally rescued me.” He thrust her from him and snorted. “You think highly of yourself, female, if you think I would stoop to copulating with your pale form. Your mouth alone is enough to shrivel any man’s cock.” Megan whirled and planted her hands on her hip. “Pale? I’m the one with some normal color here instead of freaking purple. And I’ll have you know, my mouth has never received any complaints; on the contrary, my oral techniques are well known among my lovers.” When his lips twitched into a partial grin, she grasped what she’d said and red heat rose up her neck to color her cheeks. However, she didn’t cower or run. She stood straighter and faced him with a glare. “Thank you for advising me of your aptitude. I shall be sure to add it to your list of skills when I auction you off at the first available port.” And with those words, he whirled on his heel and began walking away.Auction? Oh, hell no. She steeled herself for battle and took off after him. * Tren bristled with anger, not at the Earthling who’d amused him with her brave posturing and inane chattering, but at himself for his interest in finding out just how good her oral skills were. He had no interest in the barbarian creature. Although, shoving his cock into her chatterbox would at least muffle the sound of her complaining for a while, something his turgid shaft urged him to try. And there lay another issue—his attraction to her. It didn’t help she’d gone from drowned, wretched looking sea creature to feisty and surprisingly attractive female. Dry, her hair was streaked yellow and brown in a strangely attractive manner and curled slightly. Her backside, which he’d not noticed previously, was round and inviting. As for her two breasted shape, he enjoyed the way her round breasts filled out the fabric of his shirt and how her nipples protruded through the fabric, begging for a mouth to suck them.No. We do not play with the merchandise. Wait, that applied to virgin stock. From the way this one spoke, she was far from that state. Although, she might end up as frozen food if she keeps haranguing me. She followed close on his heels as he strode away in an attempt to escape her tirade. “There will be no selling of me and my services,” she screeched from behind him. Tren ignored her and kept walking. What she wanted didn’t even factor into his decisions. “Ooh.” Exasperation colored her exclamation, and a moment later, she attacked him, pummeling his back in a fury with her fists.Seriously? He turned and her blows rained on his rock hard abdomen. He stared down at her while she vented her wrath and only when she slowed did he drawl. “Done yet?” She raised sparking brown eyes to his, and he couldn’t help notice the pink flush on her cheeks. He found himself captivated by the redness of her lips, their natural color, he assumed, now that she’d warmed up. He missed seeing her knee, though, which connected with his cock with unerring accuracy. “Now I am,” she sassed, sounding all too pleased with herself. Tren gritted his teeth through the burning pain, and before she could inflict more damage, he grabbed her and upended her over his shoulder.

EXCERPT #4 Jaguar’s Rule by T. J. MichaelsReya followed Dr. Matons out of her bedroom and closed the door with a quiet snap. After brewing herself a cup of tea, she joined her old friend out on the screened veranda and plopped down in her favorite plastic patio chair. The smell of the passing storm was heavy in the air, along with the scent of charred wood and jet fuel. In spite of the evening’s hair-raising events, she was calm and determined. Vanilla and clove scented smoke floated up from Dr. Matons’ pipe. She should have never asked her Aunt Sulu to send the stuff. Now the old curmudgeon would never again settle for the local tobaccos. "Well, our little patient was lucky tonight," Dr. Matons drawled around his pipe. "Little patient?" Reya queried with amusement. She was sure she’d never met a man so long his feet practically hung off the edge of her bed, or a more muscularly perfect specimen as the one lying in her bedroom. She and Dr. Matons had spent the past several hours removing glass and plastic from various patches of skin. They’d stitched the deeper cuts across his back, wrapped his chest tightly and cleaned off all the blood. She’d seen every inch of his magnificent body and there was nothing, and she meant nothing, little about him. "It’s a good thing you were out on patrol when his plane went down. I don’t know if he would have made it otherwise," the doctor said, blowing out a ring of thick smoke. "He is certainly handsome, as men go." His eyes crinkled at the sides as he watched her. The old matchmaker. Always looking for someone to pair her up with. Even an unconscious man in serious condition. When she didn’t answer but stared out into the night, he continued. "I gave him a strong painkiller, but he’s not out of the woods. Do you mind if I sleep here so I can check on him during the night?" "No, I don’t mind at all. Why don’t you take the office? The futon in there is pretty comfy. I’ll take the couch." Her eyes hadn’t strayed from the tangle of ferns and vines leading into the dark canopy of jungle no more than a hundred yards from her back stairs. "You’re not planning on going back out in this deluge, are you?" "The storm is almost past. I’ll be fine. Besides, something weird happened out there tonight. If you’re still awake when I get back, I’ll tell you about it." The moon, pale and obscured by dark thunderheads, was the only light shining onto her second-story veranda. Reya unlaced her boots, toed them off and set them beside the screen door that led down the back stairs. Dr. Matons continued to puff on his pipe while she peeled off her tank top and blood-spattered pants, tossed them in a pile and loosely tied a small bundle around her neck. "Be careful, my dear. Wake me when you return," Dr. Matons called quietly. Extinguishing his pipe, he rose and slipped through the sliding glass door and into her living room. Reya watched his retreating back until the subtle snap of the office door told her she was alone. Shirt, pants and shoes in a neat pile on the floor, she dropped to her knees. Muscles rippled and bunched as raw power surged through her limbs—heady, thunderous power as her body shortened then stretched. Her tall frame shuddered as thick fur burst through her pores, replacing smooth skin. The cooling breeze ruffled the sleek fur on the tufts of the ears of a black jaguar as she stalked down the stairs and loped into the surrounding jungle.

EXCERPT #5 Handcuffed to the Sheikh by Teresa Morgan"You are very quiet," her abductor said, in a casual tone, steering the bike even more casually. "Have you thought about apologizing to me? Offering an explanation? Perhaps some begging? I do enjoy your begging, under other circumstances." She seesawed between rage and disbelief. Why should she apologize to him? He was the one who'd just committed a crime and he wanted to blame her for it? Acid growled in her gut at the injustice of it. But his words made her brain skip in confusion, like a CD with a scratch. He spoke like he knew her. "I will never apologize to you," she spewed at him, as if the words were poisonous. He slammed the brakes so hard the bike jerked. On instinct, she grabbed him for support. With her hands clamped to his chest, she felt his heart beating a furious tempo, even through his jacket. He'd handled the bike... hell, he'd committed the act of abduction with such calm, but underneath the outward signs, he hid some great emotion. Excitement at his upcoming torture session? Or maybe something else? She felt him slow his breaths as if measuring them out. He removed his helmet leisurely, with a controlled deliberateness. The moon, emerging from behind its cloudy screen for an instant, made his hair gleam blue-black. His profile, all strong chin and harsh lines, made her suck in a breath. His all-male gorgeousness seemed designed to melt women in their tracks. Combined with his powerful body, he didn't seem like the kind of guy who needed to abduct any girl. In fact, she could picture women lining up to be kidnapped by him. If he wasn't pure crazy, she might have considered joining the queue. He dismounted the bike, dragging her off against her will, since her arms were shackled around him. Without stopping, as if she was just a fly stuck to his back, he strode across the pine needle-strewn yard. His long steps forced her to scramble to keep from tripping. "Hey," she protested, but he clearly couldn't hear her muffled voice without the helmet speaker. So she took the opportunity to curse him out in privacy. Each creative swear word strengthened her courage. Her helmet blocked her peripheral vision, so she couldn't see much of what looked like a three or four-room cabin with walls of raw wood and tiles falling off the roof. The bike was probably worth twice what the cabin was. It didn't add up. He twisted a key in the lock, and she zoned in on him putting the key away in his inside pocket, in case that info came in handy later. She paid such close attention that she nearly missed him place his thumb on a knot in the wood next to the door—and the subtle green light that swept over his thumbprint. She heard the distinct click of metal locks unbolting. Really? A high tech security system for this tumble-down place? Her throat nearly closed. Maybe he intended on assaulting her and disposing of the body after all. If so, he could definitely give Dexter a run for his money. The kitchen they stepped into was no less high tech. He turned on the light to reveal gleaming black appliances, polished granite countertops, and restaurant-quality gadgets. The outside of the 'cabin' might seem like it was about to fall over, but the inside? Pure luxury. The whole place was built to deceive someone into dismissing the exterior while the inhabitants lived in lavish comfort. With one abrupt motion, he turned in place. Instead of being held against his back, Max faced him, getting a close-up view of the stiff curling hairs escaping the slight V of his dark shirt. He snapped the strap under her chin and lifted the helmet away, setting it on the counter next to his own. Her mouth dried up. There had never been a man more handsome than this one. Flawless dark Arabian skin and eyes greyer than the granite that surrounded her. Lips—God above, those lips would seduce her all by themselves. It wasn't fair that he also had a strong column of neck and shoulders like rock cliffs. Not an ounce of fat on him. Carbs probably ran from this man in sheer terror. She tried to lean away from him so he couldn't feel her heart pounding a crazy beat under her ribs. Her entire body had turned traitor. How could her hormones go into overdrive for the guy who'd just drugged and abducted her? It wasn’t fair. She looked at the floor, praying the blush incinerating her cheeks wouldn't betray her. No hope. He caught her chin in one hand and forced her to look into his. For an instant, she thought she saw a spark of amusement there, before he narrowed his gaze to grey slits. "On your knees, Maxine Rosalie Foss," he ordered. Kneel? But that would put her at eye level with his... What did he want her to do? Incensed by the unfairness of it, she wanted to scream 'never,' but she didn't trust her voice with that many syllables. "No." "Do you prefer to be locked together like this forever? I don't mind if you don't." His seducer's lips quirked up at one corner. In a flash, she saw what he wanted. She was supposed to lower her arms so he could step out of the circle made by the handcuffs. She hadn't thought she could blush any harder. Damn, she must be purple in the face by now. "You could unlock me instead," she suggested, without much hope. "But hayati." A scarlet tongue wet his full bottom lip. "That would be so much less fun for me." He was in control—she couldn't do a thing about it. The more she resisted, the more he'd enjoy watching her writhe. Before she could think too much about it, she lowered herself to one knee and put her hands on the floor. Her cheek touched muscled thighs encased in dark, soft denim. She tried not to think about that, either. He took his time stepping back, drawing out her mortification as long as possible. Before she could stand again, he planted a leather boot on the chain of the cuffs. She couldn’t misread the message. He had all the power. She could submit, or suffer. On instinct, she looked up to see pitiless grey eyes smoldering at her. "Are you certain you will never apologize to me, Max?"

EXCERPT #7 Burns Like Fire by Mandy Rosko "Hi, Cindy." Cindy stared at him. Her bright amethyst eyes widened so he could see the whites all around. Her glossy peach lips dropped open as her facial expression changed from scared to all hell to just plain confused. He got a real dumb sense of satisfaction over that. Yeah, she'd thought he was good and dead. "Jack?" she practically shrieked his name. She was so focused on his face, probably wondering why it wasn't melted, or why he was even alive, that she didn't look down and see the rag or the shackles hanging in his free hand until it was too late. She tried to jump to the passenger side, to get away, but Jack lunged. He grabbed her by her frail shoulders and pushed her down across the seats. He pushed the rag hard over her mouth and nose before she could shriek for help. He had the shackle in his other hand and he almost got it down on her wrist before she punched him good and hard in the nose. Her thin, tiny knuckles didn't look like much, but they hurt like a bitch on impact. He thought he even heard a crunch. "Ah, fuck!" He reared back and dropped the cuffs to the floor of her car, but he didn't take the cloth off of her nose as he cursed and yelled. That fucking hurt! Blood dripped from his nose and onto her pale collarbone and dress in the struggle. She got him good that time. He wasn't about to let her do it to him again. Her sharp manicured nails scratched at his hands, drawing even more blood. Jack grabbed both of her wrists and yanked them above her head, holding them down with one hand while he kept up the pressure of the cloth with the other. She kicked and struggled as she breathed in the chemical, but she didn't have the strength to buck him off and he avoided her knees when she tried to get him in the balls.Don't summon fire. Don't summon fire, he chanted in his head over and over again. She had it in her eyes, he could see it building up around her as the temperature of her body increased. If she burned him, he wouldn't be able to handle it. He'd fly right off her and she'd be as good as gone. She'd get away and he might never find her again. Cindy's struggles beneath him started to let up. There wasn't much physical strength to begin with, but now it was almost nonexistent as the hint of flames left her eyes, and her body went limp. Jack released her hands. He panted for breath as if he was the one who'd just lost the fight. The car stank of sweat mixed with the sweet scent of the chloroform. He was careful to keep the rag away from his own face, already starting to feel sort of dizzy himself. "I finally got you," he said. Then Cindy's eyes widened as she came alive again. She clawed at his hands and arms with her manicured nails, scratching deep. "Fuck! Stop that!" Jack roared, grabbing onto her wrists and yanking them above her head again. Holy shit, she'd just faked that. Smart. It pissed him the hell off, but he had to admit it was smart. When blood beaded up from the scratches on his hand, Jack growled, and he forgot all about being impressed. Was she ever going to pass out? Had he used enough of the chemical? If she didn't go under soon then that fire would come and light him up like his father and brothers. No fire came. Cindy's struggles weakened, for real this time as he held the rag to her face, for longer this time. Her bright, fearful eyes slid shut as she gave one last jerk before going under. Jack sighed, relaxing his tense muscles as the only sound in the car was his own heavy breathing. He wiped the sweat off his brow. Not the worst paranormal he'd put under by far, but she hadn't given in easily. Adrenaline rushed through him as he stared down at her unconscious form. Cindy's hair was all over the damned place, her arms up high as her breasts rose and fell in sleep. She could have just dozed off for how innocent she looked. The only thing that gave away the struggle was her flushed skin. He pulled the damp cloth away from her mouth and nose. He hadn't even realized his heart was beating so fast, and he lifted himself off of her. Being on top of an unconscious woman was creepy, regardless of who she was and why they were both there. "Holy Christ," he sighed, letting himself drop to the cool and dirty pavement of the parking lot. He sucked in a breath of clean, fresh air, and carded his fingers through his hair. Though he hated having to touch her again, even for the capture, he'd still noticed how smooth her skin felt when he'd grabbed her arms. Her body beneath his had been exactly the same. It was like muscle memory had taken over when he'd straddled her, and as she'd bucked her hips up to try and push him off, his body had responded. It wasn't his fault his dick didn't know the difference between fighting and fucking, that it didn't realize she'd been trying to get him off of her, not gyrating against his heavy prick for friction. Jack shook his head. That was too weird, especially considering she'd burned down the house he and his family had been sleeping in.. Fuck that and fuck her. He wasn't going to feel guilty because he was a healthy male who was reacting to a beautiful woman. She was the one with something to answer for, not him. All because Jack had been the one guy in the whole history of time stupid enough to tell a pyro that his family made their profession out of hunting paranormals for the government. Really, what had he expected her to do? Be happy about it? "I got you," he said again, and then he laughed as he stared up at the night sky. The stars were bright. "I got you."

EXCERPT #8 Debt Inheritance by Pepper Winters I SAT ON my newest purchase, resting like a mechanical shadow by the curb. It didn’t glintor gleam. It waited in black silence ready to charge into the night.Give her options. Don’t make her suspect. Threaten only when necessary. Above all, take her without causing attention. The rules my father told me the morning I left to fly to Milan, repeated in my head. I was obeying. Even though it was fucking hard. I struggled to balance my true nature with that of apolite gentleman, coaxing a skittish woman out for dinner. As if I would be interested in a girl like her. Meek. Skinny. Beyond fucking sheltered it was insane. Grabbing the throttle of my bike, I waged with ignoring my father’s rules and stalking into the venue and stealing Nila Weaver in front of everyone. She could scream, shout—it wouldn’t make a difference. But that wasn’t allowed. The other option was I could just fuck off and kidnap her from her hotel room.She has to come willingly. My father’s voice again. Kidnapping was the last resort. I growled under my breath. I’d let her go, not because of some decency, or concern of what would happen to her family’s happiness, or even the upcoming pain in her future. No, I let her go, because I was my father’s son and followed a plan. But there was a deeper reason, too. I was a hunter. Skilled with both bow and arrow and gun. I stalked the weaker and slit their throats when they succumbed to my careful aim. But sometimes I liked to…miss. I liked to give them a small window of safety, all while closing the noose when they didn’t expect it. I liked to play with my food. The chase was the best part. Hunting was intoxicating. And knowing I had the power to snuff out Nila Weaver’s life the moment I caught her gave me a certain…thrill. That was the only reason I restrained myself and followed the rules. I had no secrets of why I would stain my hands with her blood. I had no misplaced vendettas or agendas. Everything that would come to pass was for one simple and undisputable fact. There was a debt to be paid. And I was the method of extraction. Plain and simple.I’m a Hawk. She’s a Weaver. That was all I needed to know. In the library a week ago, while sipping on a ten thousand pound bottle of cognac, my father proceeded to tell me a little of our history. He told me gruesome things. Dastardly things. Tears shed. Blood spilled. He told me what happened to Nila’s mother. He also told me why every firstborn Weaver girl had a stain upon her life. I understood it. I accepted it. I was given the task to uphold my family’s honour. And I fully intended to extract payment as meticulously and as painfully as possible. It wasn’t often I was given the opportunity to make my bastard of a father proud. I didn’t intend to let him down. Even though I wouldn’t enjoy it.Liar. You will enjoy it. A tight smile twisted my lips. Fine. I would enjoy it. Nila Weaver would be my greatest trophy. I might not be able to display her head on my wall once I was through, but I would treasure the memories. Something told me I would no longer find pleasure in hunting hapless deer after I’d hunted a woman. Oh, yes. I would enjoy ruining Nila, because I liked breaking things. But not in a gruesome barbaric way. I liked to break them smoothly, gently, ruthlessly. I liked to think I transformed creatures from their present to their potential. Pity once Nila was transformed she wouldn’t be allowed to enjoy her evolution. She would be dead. That was the final toll. That was her future.To kill something so naïvely pretty… It made me angry in a way to think of such delicate perfection snuffed out. But there was no point thinking of the end when the chase had just begun. "Nice bike." My head snapped up, eyes locking onto my prey. The same prey who’d run yet returned. She’d returned? I was right before. She truly is stupid. Nila drifted forward, threading and unthreading her fingers. I didn’t move or utter a sound. She responded to my silence—like everything. I’d learned that cursing and yelling could be frightening—but silence…it was the empty void where enemies’ fears polluted. Stay quiet long enough and horror would be struck with one whisper instead of a multitude of profanities. She waved at my bike, her eyes wider than before…darker than before. Deciding to grant her a reply, I said, "It’s my version of accessorising." The Harley-Davidson was a new purchase. Sleek and sharp, nicknamed The Little Black Dress. Stroking the throttle, I tilted my head. Her dusky skin had colour. Her pronounced cheekbones were flushed, trailing residual temper down her neck. Something had happened. Something had upset her. Did she find her father, only for him to disown her and send her back to me? I frowned. Could Archibald Weaver truly send his only daughter not once, but twice, to her death? He knew what awaited her. He knew what would happen if he didn’t give her up. But was family honour that strong? Or was there more to this debt than I’d been told? Either way, it was time to go. Time to begin her nightmare. "You returned." She nodded. "I returned. I want something from you. And I’m not going to be shy about asking." A flicker of surprise caught me unaware. She came across shy and timid, but there lurked steel in her voice. Little did she know what I wanted from her in return. "Fair enough. I have something to discuss with you."Don’t make her suspect. "What?"Your future. Your death. "Nothing important, but we need to go."Time to begin. The time is nigh to pay your debts. Nila came closer, shedding the tameness, and embracing courage. I would’ve been intrigued if I didn’t already know everything about her. Such a silly girl. A silly toy. Whatever she wanted from me, I’d oblige. After all, she’d been given to me to do as I pleased.And everyone knows you don’t give a pet to a killer.

EXCERPT #9 Choosing Riley by S. E. Smith "Choose," the disembodied voice said.Choose? Choose what? Riley thought, looking around her in disbelief at the rock walls.Choose to get the fuck out of this crazy nightmare? Hell, yeah. Choose to kill the bastards who put me in this miserable spot? Oh, hell yeah. Choose… Riley jerked when she felt the ice-cold claw poke her in the back for the third time. Looking around, she followed the arm of the creature standing next to her as it pointed down over the edge of a small platform. She really was trying for that nice stage of being totally zoned out, but the damn creatures who kidnapped her twenty days before had an annoying habit of bringing her back to the unfortunate situation she was in. "Choose," the nearly eight-foot-tall stick figure said again, this time losing some of the disembodied tone. Riley couldn’t help the little smirk that lifted the corner of her mouth. She really couldn’t. After the first week of captivity, she had moved from being mind-numbingly terrified to just downright pissed off at life. She figured if she was going to die, she might as well do what she did best: piss everyone off around her. That was what had gotten her into this situation in the first place—her big mouth and smart-ass attitude. Okay, maybe she shouldn’t have pissed off her boss by telling him what he could do with his wandering hands when he grabbed her ass for the third time that day. Better yet, she shouldn’t have broken his nose, his hand, and more than likely his nuts since he had been screaming more than an octave or two higher than a soprano. Yeah, that probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do. Especially since his daddy happened to be the local sheriff. She was a bail bondsman, for heaven’s sake. Any freaking idiot should have known better than to mess with her. Her line of work required she know a certain amount of self-defense.God, she thought. I really should have never taken that job. When her boss swore she would never leave town alive after she beat the shit out of him, she figured it was time to get the hell out of Righteous, New Mexico. Of course, the fact her boss owned the local bail bond company and had a somewhat lucrative business going with his daddy should have been her first warning that something wasn’t right, she’d thought as she grabbed her purse and a large manila folder full of incriminating evidence against both of them. Finding out that daddy and junior were also running illegal weapons and drugs were definitely her second and third warnings. Of course, the little tidbit of information she had found that morning about the dead guy buried under the storage unit had been the real reason she figured she had made a bad mistake. That information was now safely tucked into the manila folder stuffed in her purse, and it had gone along with her as she left the small town she had been living in for the past six months as fast as her old Ford could drive. She actually might have had a chance to live a little longer if a series of life’s usual little hiccups hadn’t been blessed upon her. Again. Of course, if the car had been further than one push to the nearest junkyard it would have helped her great nonexistent getaway plans. It would have been better yet if the damn car hadn’t broken down just over the state line on the outskirts of the desert. She knew she should have purchased a new one last month, but she was such a tightwad she wanted to get every last mile out of it. And boy, did she! Oh, and she couldn’t forget her best idea yet—getting in a truck with a guy who had more piercings and tattoos than a model for Prick Magazine instead of walking the three miles to the bar she had seen a roadside sign for.No, I had to get my fat--Riley sighed. No, my maturely figured ass into the scum-bucket’s truck. Riley sighed again. I really, really should have taken those anger management classes like my sainted sister, Tina, said I needed. Unable to keep the grin off her face, Riley thought back to the look on the pierced, tattooed guy’s face when she shot him the bird as he drove off, leaving her in the middle of that godforsaken hell’s beach just as it was getting dark.Give him a fucking blow job if I wanted a ride out of the desert, Riley thought savagely. Not bloody likely. She showed him! As soon as he pulled over to the side of the road, she had been out of the truck cussing him up one side and down the other. Her Grandma Pearl would have been proud of her. She remembered every cuss word her grandmother ever said and a few her grandma probably didn’t even know. Of course, he had left her mature ass in the middle of nowhere. Riley thought she was a goner until she had seen all those little lights coming toward her. How the hell was she supposed to know the fucking aliens had messed up where Area 51 was and ended up in Nowhere, Arizona? Riley had thought she was about to be rescued by a dwarf biker gang riding dirt bikes, not some alien spaceship out for a Monday night cruise for well-endowed women. Riley thought she was a goner until she had seen all those little lights coming toward her. How the hell was she supposed to know the fucking aliens had messed up where Area 51 was and ended up in Nowhere, Arizona? Riley had thought she was about to be rescued by a dwarf biker gang riding dirt bikes, not some alien spaceship out for a Monday night cruise for well-endowed women. "Choose!" the tall creature growled out loudly. Riley cleared her throat before turning to the stick-figured alien dwarfing her. "Choose what?" she asked, unable to hold back the slightly crazed giggle that had been threatening to escape her. She giggled again at finally making the creature’s blank face break into a frustrated scowl. The creature slowly fisted its clawed hands before its shoulders actually drooped. "Choose a male," Antrox 785 said wearily. Riley raised her perfectly arched eyebrows at the creature before turning to look at the selection of men who had been paraded in while she had been reflecting on how her attitude might have played a part in her present predicament. She had been watching haphazardly as a different female—at least she thought they were female—had been led to stand where she was now. She was told—in a rather rude manner if you asked her—that she was being given the last choice because of her being so disagreeable, unpleasant, and downright ugly. She had, of course, taken it all in stride until the last comment and had to be restrained again after she‘d punched the stickman guarding her in what she hoped was his balls. Whatever the creatures had under their tunics, it laid the guy out cold. Now, she was staring at one eight-foot-tall glob of green, oozing snot, something resembling a two-foot, two-headed lizard, and three six-foot-four or more drop-dead gorgeous hunks. Riley’s eyes widened. If it wasn’t for the fact that she was thirstier than hell so she didn’t have the capacity to produce enough spit, she would have sworn she was drooling. She could tell by their build and their eyes and maybe the markings on their arms, chest, and shoulders, oh and did she mention their sharp teeth as they growled at the stick-alien, that they weren’t human, but man-oh-man did they look yummy! Riley thought dreamily for a moment before perking up again. "What happens to the males that aren’t chosen?" Riley asked curiously, never taking her eyes off the three males. "They will be used as food," Antrox said with a frown. "Choose! All mated males will be kept to work in the mines. Mated males are easier to control as they are protective of their female. Now choose your male!" "What if I don’t want to choose a male?" Riley asked sarcastically as she turned to face the tall creature next to her. "What if I don’t feel like choosing a male? What if I don’t even like males?" Riley added. Right at that moment, she honestly believed she might not ever like any male ever again! After all, it was men who had started this whole hateful series of events starting with her no-good, dimwitted boss. Now, this overgrown toothpick expected her to just pick one of the bastards and mate with him?That is so seriously not going to happen. Restraints or not, I will beat the shit out of any guy who tries to mate with me, she thought fiercely. She wasn’t going to mate with any alien, no matter how cute they looked. She had watched enough science fiction movies to cure her of ever wanting any alien booty! What if those things decided to do some body snatching or exploding out of her? A shudder went through Riley at the thought. Antrox 785 looked back and forth between Riley and the men on the platform below him with a confused expression on his face. "Why would you not want to choose a male? You are female! All of our data points to you being the weaker of your species and in need of a male for protection." Antrox looked from the males back to Riley again. "Why would you not like males?" Riley let loose a slightly hysterical laugh. Okay, maybe she was still just a little terrified. "Why don’t I like males? Now, that is the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question, isn’t it? How about we go get a bottle or two of your strongest booze, get good and drunk, and I’ll tell you why I don’t like males anymore!" Riley’s voice was growing louder with each word. "Let’s start with you!"

ABOUT THE AUTHORSAs a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of erotic contemporary romance, Opal Carew writes about passion, love, and taking risks. Her heroines follow their hearts and push past the fear that stops them from realizing their dreams… to the excitement and love of happily-ever-after.Cathryn is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. She has two teenagers who keep her busy with their never ending activities, and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan.Eve Langlais is an International Bestselling author who loves to write hot romance. She has a twisted imagination and a sarcastic sense of humour that will definitely make you giggle during her stories.TJ is a USA Today and NY Times bestselling author, and her books have won multiple awards in several romance genres, including paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi and urban fantasy romance. Writing like a madman, TJ hasn’t lost steam. Her mind? Yep, that’s gone, but steam there is a-plenty.Teresa Morgan is the author of Cinderella and the Sheikh, Handcuffed to the Sheikh, and Sheikh with Benefits, all available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever else hot contemporary romance eBooks are sold. By day, she's a mild-mannered technical writer, but by night (and lunch hours, and weekends) she's a digital Sheherezade, weaving tales of sexy Sheikhs and the strong-willed heroines who love them. After selling her first book in 2004, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Sharon Page has indie and traditionally published 20 novels and novellas. Her books have won many awards including two RT Bookreviews Reviewers Choice Awards, two National Readers Choice Awards, the Colorado Award of Romance, and the Golden Quill.Mandy Rosko lives as a hermit with her scared of everything dog, and she works in Ottawa, Ontario. Every once in a while she peels herself away from writing and Internet surfing to socialize with real people. She loves videogames, Sailor Moon, and her dog.Pepper Winters is a NYT and USA Today International Bestseller. She wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters.S. E. Smith is a USA TODAY and #1 International Amazon Bestselling author who has always been a romantic and a dreamer. An avid writer, she has spent years writing, although it has usually been technical papers for college. Now, she spends her evenings and weekends writing and her nights dreaming up new stories.

About the Courage Anthology charity:www.avonwalk.org/goto/50shadesofpink All proceeds from sales will benefit the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer via the Fifty Shades of Pink team. FIFTY SHADES OF PINK team is made up of a group of girlfriends who raise funds annually to participate in the Avon 2 Day Breast Cancer Walk in Santa Barbara, CA. For one weekend in September, we wake up before the crack of dawn, dress in as much Pink as humanly possible and prepare to walk for 39.9 miles. We suffer and laugh through: · Torn muscles which require surgery · Blisters that are almost covering your entire foot and body parts you never realize you could get a blister on (ButtCrackGate 2013) · Passing out in the triage medical unit · Sleeping in a tent on the grass · Taking the best mobile showers EVER · Limping like old ladies · Cursing at the curbs to get onto the sidewalk (Walk 39 miles and you will be cursing at them too). We do this all in the hopes that no other Mother, Sister, Aunt or Friend will have to deal with Breast Cancer. ***Money raised from the anthology will go towards the 2015 Avon Walk***

Never Been Ready (The Ready Series Book 2) by J.L. Berg Leah Morgan was done with men. After barely surviving a horrendous childhood, and a boyfriend who bailed when things got rough, Leah had given up on love. Then she met him, Hollywood’s new golden boy who suddenly had eyes only for her. She tried to convince herself that one night couldn’t hurt, but after six months, the memories of his mesmerizing gaze and searing touch still invaded her every thought.

Declan James had just one rule when it came to women. Keep it simple, and never linger. That all changed the moment he met Leah. Even across a crowded bar, he could tell she was different. Sweet, with just the right amount of sass, she made him break his golden rule and now he couldn’t walk away.

When casual becomes anything but, and emotions run deep, will Leah and Declan fight their fears, or let old insecurities tear them apart? When Declan’s past comes roaring back in a way neither of them could have expected, will they stand united or be torn apart by the challenges that lie ahead?

It was only supposed to be one night, but only forever will do. ~Amazon US~

Dominic (Slater Brothers Book 1) by L.A. Casey WARNING: If you don't like leading males that are possessive pr**ks, Dominic is NOT for you. If you don't like leading females that are stubborn bi**hes, Dominic is NOT for you. If you don't like characters who have bad tempers, Dominic is NOT for you. Most of all, if you don't like characters who CURSE A LOT and say EXACTLY what they feel and are thinking without sugar coating it then Dominic is REALLY NOT for you.

After a car accident killed her parents when she was a child, Bronagh Murphy chose to box herself off from people in an effort to keep herself from future hurt. If she doesn't befriend people, talk to them or acknowledge them in any way they leave her alone just like she wants.

When Dominic Slater enters her life, ignoring him is all she has to do to get his attention. Dominic is used to attention, and when he and his brothers move to Dublin, Ireland for family business, he gets nothing but attention. Attention from everyone except the beautiful brunette with a sharp tongue.

Dominic wants Bronagh and the only way he can get to her, is by dragging her from the boxed off corner she has herself trapped in the only way he knows how...by force.

The Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moseley Amber Walker and her older brother, Jake, have an abusive father. One night her brother's best friend, Liam, sees her crying and climbs through her bedroom window to comfort her. That one action sparks a love/hate relationship that spans over the next eight years.

Liam is now a confident, flirty player who has never had a girlfriend before. Amber is still emotionally scarred from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. Together they make an unlikely pair.

Their relationship has always been a rocky one, but what happens when Amber starts to view her brother's best friend a little differently? And how will her brother, who has always been a little overprotective, react when he finds out that the pair are growing closer? Find out in The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window. ~Amazon US~

When the Sun Goes Down (Dusk Til Dawn Book 1) by Erin Noelle A story of deception...

Trina is a quiet, reserved music teacher at an inner-city elementary school. Because of the traumatic events of her childhood, she’s skittish of people in general, but men especially frighten her. However, when Lucca Ellis appears in her life, he refuses to take no for an answer. Will he be able to help her overcome the past that has kept her a prisoner for over eight years?

Kat is a woman scorned and out for revenge. Wronged by the men in her life, she thrives on belittling and dominating all men that she comes in contact with. Her end goal is to make the one man, the one who stole her life away as a child, pay for his actions, and she doesn’t care who she has to destroy to get there.

These two lives that both thrive on control, were never supposed to overlap, but anything can happen… When the Sun Goes Down. ~Amazon US~

Freefall: Custom Culture #1 by Tess Oliver Ever since a tragic accident killed her family and left her alone in the world, Scotlyn James hasn't spoken one word. Up until now she didn't care that she had no way of talking to people. Her awful aunt would never have listened, and Lincoln Hammond the arrogant, selfish man who pulled her from the streets of Los Angeles wouldn't hear her words if she could speak. But when Lincoln insists she get a tattoo to cover up a scar on her side, Scotlyn meets the artist, Nix Pierce. And now she longs for her voice. Now she has found someone who will hear her. ~Amazon US~

All for You (A Laurel Heights Novel) by Kate Perry Anna Godwin likes it spicy.

At least she used to. Somewhere between law school and real life, she lost her sparkle. Now she wears boring business suits to boring dates in her boring life.

The last time Anna remembers feeling that sizzle was with the one man who's all cayenne and passion: Max Corazao, the one who got away.

Except Max still sees Anna as a woman full of spice. And Anna intends to do whatever she can to be that woman again—with his (unknowing) help... ~Amazon US~

Searching for Moore by Julie A. Richman I lost the love of my life when she disappeared without even a goodbye.

It was the 80's - there was no internet, no Google, no cell phones.

If you wanted to disappear, you could.

And she did.

She crushed my soul.

A friend just told me he saw her on Facebook.

And now I'm a keystroke away from asking her the question that's haunted me for two decades.

"Why did you leave me?" Two decades after she broke his heart, sexy entrepreneur Schooner Moore uncovers the truth and betrayal his life has been built on when he Facebook friend requests college love, Mia Silver. Determined to win Mia's love once again, Schooner embarks on a life-altering journey that could cost him everything. ~Amazon US~

Until Trevor (Until Series Book 2) by Aurora Rose Reynolds Trevor Mayson had his life planned out - make the family business successful and play the field for a few more years before eventually settling down. Then he sees her. Liz Hayes was beautiful, shy and everything that he could ever want...but she didn't fit into his plans. After Trevor painfully rejects her, Liz finally starts to move on, but Trevor is finding it difficult to truly let her go. It seems the more he tries to stay away, the more intense his feelings for her become. Like a stretched rubber band, he can only take so much before snapping.

Liz Hayes is done waiting for Trevor and isn't interested in getting her heart broken by him again, but Trevor is making it difficult for her to forget him when he shoves his way back into her life.

Can Trevor prove to her that he is worth falling in love with again, and is he ready to change his life plan to let her into his heart? ~Amazon US~

In A Heartbeat (Rebel Walking #1) by Hilary Storm Eaven Bennett is a college student with a passion for photography. She has high hopes of completing college and starting a new life as she moves away from her hometown with her best friend, Ivy Adams. Her last boyfriend ruined any chance of her trusting ever again.

Talon Walker is the dark and intriguing drummer for the up and coming band ‘Rebel Walking’. A tragedy in his past has left him empty with no desire for a relationship. That is until he meets Eaven.

One minute your heart is filled with love, the next your entire life comes crashing down. Everything can change in a heartbeat. Can Eaven and Talon overcome the obstacles in their way and find love? ~Amazon US~

Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters "My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect.

Then it all changed.

I was sold."

Tess Snow has everything she ever wanted: one more semester before a career in property development, a loving boyfriend, and a future dazzling bright with possibility.

For their two year anniversary, Brax surprises Tess with a romantic trip to Mexico. Sandy beaches, delicious cocktails, and soul-connecting sex set the mood for a wonderful holiday. With a full heart, and looking forward to a passion filled week, Tess is on top of the world.

But lusty paradise is shattered.

Kidnapped. Drugged. Stolen. Tess is forced into a world full of darkness and terror.

Captive and alone with no savior, no lover, no faith, no future, Tess evolves from terrified girl to fierce fighter. But no matter her strength, it can't save her from the horror of being sold.

Can Brax find Tess before she's broken and ruined, or will Tess's new owner change her life forever?

A New Adult Dark Contemporary Romance, not suitable for people sensitive to grief, slavery, and hard to read subjects. A story about finding love in the strangest of places, a will of iron that grows from necessity, and forgiveness that may not be enough. ~Amazon US~